Emerging Issues: Declining Pinto Abalone
The rocky shores and kelp beds of the San Juan Islands and the western straits of Juan de Fuca have historically provided ideal habitat for the northern, or pinto, abalone (Haliotis kamschatkana). These algae grazing mollusks were once found in such abundance to support important subsistence and recreational fisheries. Worldwide, abalone numbers have declined precipitously over the last several decades, with commercial harvest, and to a lesser extent, recreational harvest and disease, primary factors. Washington state has never allowed a commercial harvest, but beginning in the early 1990's, researchers began to see an alarming trend--abalone populations were down nearly 50% from the past decade. In response, the state banned recreational abalone harvest in 1994, but still, northern abalone have continued to decline to a point where researchers now believe the snails occur at such low densities they are unable to successfully reproduce.
The loss of this iconic invertebrate would affect the ecology of the sound in unknown ways, and also deprive future generations the opportunity to connect with their environment by observing or sustainably harvesting a healthy abalone stock. Because of this, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the University of Washington, in partnership with Washington Sea Grant, are studying ways to kick start rehabilitation of northern abalone populations in Puget Sound. WDFW biologist Don Rothaus presented the issues surrounding the decline and possible rehabilitation of northern abalone with the Northwest Straits Commission in December 2005. While raising and releasing juvenile abalone seems to offer promise for rehabilitation, researchers are working to understand the potential impacts of such a program on remaining wild abalone stocks. It's also important to continue to conduct surveys for northern abalone in the Northwest Straits and monitor their status.
Northwest Straits Commissioner Joe Gaydos is involved in an effort to create a northern abalone working group to develop a northern abalone restoration plan.