Import Export: Abalone Haliotis

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Abalone Haliotis

The historic range of white abalone extended from Point Conception, California, USA, to Punta Abreojos, Baja California, Mexico in the Pacific Ocean.In the northern part of the California range, white abalone were reported as being more common along the mainland coast. However, in the middle portion of the California range, they were noted to occur more frequently at the offshore islands (especially San Clemente and Santa Catalina Islands). At the southern end of the range in Baja California, Mexico, white abalone were reported to occur more commonly along the mainland coast, but were also found at a number of islands including Isla Cedros and Isla NatividadIt remains unknown whether this distribution pattern resulted because of lack of suitable habitat along the mainland coast in the middle portion of the range, or was due to overfishing in these more accessible mainland regions