The northern abalone is an important herbivore in
sub-tidal rocky habitats and once played a major
role in communities that catered to recreational
sport divers. 

However, stocks of native shellfish have declined
dramatically in recent years, forcing fishery closures.

TO LAUNCH THE PROJECT, COLLABORATORS WILL:

  • QUANTIFY NORTHERN ABALONE
            POPULATIONS DENSITIES

  • CHARACTERIZE ABALONE HABITAT
            THROUGH FIELD SURVEYS

  • ANALYZE ABALONE GENETIC VARIATION

  • DETERMINE EFFECTIVE POPULATION SIZES
            FOR SPECIES MANAGEMENT AND
            ENHANCEMENT

  • DEVELOP PROTOCOLS FOR BREEDING
            AND REARING NORTHERN ABALONE

  • CONVENE A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS AS
            A FIRST STEP TOWARD ENGAGING
            THE PUBLIC IN ABALONE
            RESTORATION EFFORTS.

To help with recovery efforts, Puget Sound Restoration Fund is joining forces with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, the school of Aquatic and fishery Sciences at the University of Washington, Taylor Shellfish Farms, NOAA Fisheries and the local community.

Seed money for this project is from Washington Sea Grant Program and
the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.

A PROJECT OF THE PUGET SOUND RESTORATION FUND.  FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT BETSY PEABODY, PSRF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
590 MADISON AVENUE NORTH
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA  98110* 206.780-6947*BETSY@RESTORATIONFUND.ORG