However, in recent years, no permits have been granted for the collection of abalone, but commercial harvesting continues, as does illegal collection by unions. [51] In 2007, due to widespread poaching of abalone, the South African government listed abalone as threatened under the CITES Appendix of Section III, which calls on member governments to monitor trade in this species. This list was removed from CITES by the South African government in June 2010, and South African abalone is no longer subject to CITES trade controls. However, export permits are still required. Abalone meat from South Africa is allowed to be sold in the country to reduce poaching. However, much of the illegally harvested meat is sold in Asian countries. In early 2008, the wholesale price of abalone meat was about $40.00 per kilogram. There is an active trade in pomegranates, which are sold for over $1,400 a tonne. The abaliotide family is distributed all over the world, along the coastal waters of all continents except the Pacific coast of South America, the Atlantic coast of North America, the Arctic and Antarctic. [13] The majority of abalone species are found in cold waters, such as off the coasts of New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, western North America and Japan. [14] A crevice in the shell imprints a groove in the shell, in which is the row of holes characteristic of the genus. These holes are breathing openings to drain water from the gills and release sperm and eggs into the water column. [10] They form what is called selenionzone, which is formed with the growth of the shell.

This series of eight to 38 holes is located near the front edge. As a rule, only a small number is open. Older holes are gradually sealed as the shell grows and new holes form. Each species has a typical number of open holes, between four and 10, in the Selenizon. An abalone does not have an operculum. The opening of the bowl is very wide and mother-of-pearl. [10] Victoria has been an active abalone fishery since the late 1950s. The state is divided into three fishing zones, the east, medium and west zones, with each fisherman requiring a zone permit. Harvesting is carried out by divers using surface-fed air “shisha” systems operated from runabout-type outboard motorboats. While the diver searches for abalone colonies between the reef beds, the worker on board drives the boat, called “alive,” and stays above where the diver works.

Bags of abalone pricked into the rocks are brought to the surface by the diver or via a “line of fire” where the deckhand drops a weighted rope so that the capture bag can be connected and then recovered. Divers measure each abalone before it is removed from the reef, and the deckhand measures each abalone again and removes excess weed growth from the shell. Since 2002, the Victorian industry has experienced a significant decline in catches, with the total allowable catch for the 2011/12 fishing year increasing from 1440 to 787 tonnes, due to declining stocks and, in particular, abalone virus ganglioneuritis, which is spreading rapidly and is lethal to abalone stocks. The highly iridescent mother-of-pearl inner layer of Abalone`s shell has traditionally been used as a decorative object, in jewelry,[5] buttons, and as inlays in furniture and musical instruments, such as on fret boards and attached guitars. [55] In California, abalone meat can be found on pizza, sautéed with caramelized mango or sprinkled as steak with cracker flour and flour. [38] Since 2017, the abalone season runs from May to October, with the exception of July. Transport of abalone can only be carried out legally as long as the abalone is still attached in the shell. The sale of abalone purchased in sports is illegal, including shell. Only red abalone can be taken, because black, white, pink, flat, green and pinto abalone is protected by law. [46] In 2018, the California Fish and Game Commission ended the abalone recreational season due to dramatically declining populations.

This year, they extended the moratorium until April 2021. [48] Abalone meat is widely considered a desirable food and is eaten raw or cooked by a variety of crops. Abalone, one of the many sea snails that form the genus Haliotis and the family Haliotidae in the subclass Prosobranchia (class Gastropoda), in which the shell has a series of holes on its outer surface. Abalone is found in warm seas around the world. Business plans included growing abalone, lobster, oysters, mussels and algae. Abalons are one of many classes of organisms threatened with extinction due to overfishing and ocean acidification by anthropogenic carbon dioxide[57], as the reduced pH erodes their shells. In the 21. White, pink and green abalone is on the U.S. Endangered Species List, and possible restoration sites have been proposed for the San Clemente Island and Santa Barbara Island areas. [58] The possibility of bringing abalone back into the wild has also been proposed, as these abalone have special markings to track the population.

[59] “Abalone”. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abalone. Retrieved 27 September 2022. In the case of the excruciatingly slow-growing red abalone, this could take ten to twelve years. The bowl-shaped shell is perforated near an edge through a single series of small holes, which are gradually filled during the growth of the animal; The last five to nine holes remain open to serve as outlets for snail waste. The shiny, iridescent interior of the shell is used in the production of ornaments. The large muscular foot of abalone is consumed as a delicacy in several countries. Depending on the species, abalone usually measures 10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 inches) and up to 7.5 cm deep.

About 50 species have been described. The largest abalone is the 30 cm long red abalone (H. rufescens) on the west coast of the United States. H. rufescens and other species are grown commercially on abalone farms, especially in Australia, China, Japan and along the west coast of the United States. Commercial abalone fishing is found in California, Mexico, Japan and South Africa. During the investigation into the case, police arrested two Chinese citizens and a South African in possession of Perlemoen (also known as Ormeau) at breelaagte farm on Cockscoombe Road. In New Zealand, abalone is called Paua (/ˈpaʊə/, from the Maori language). Haliotis iris (or black-footed paua) is the ubiquitous New Zealand paua, whose highly polished mother-of-pearl with its striking blue, green and purple highlights is extremely popular as a souvenir. Haliotis australis and Haliotis virginea are also found in New Zealand waters, but are less popular than H. iris. These sample phrases are automatically selected from various online information sources to reflect the current use of the word “abalone.” The opinions expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.

Send us your feedback. Red Abalone sport fishing is allowed with a California fishing license and an abalone stamp card. In 2008, the Abalone card also came with a set of 24 labels. That number was reduced to 18 abalone per year in 2014, and in 2017 the limit was reduced to 12, of which only nine are allowed to be taken south of Mendocino County. Legal-sized abalone must be marked immediately. [43] Abalone should only be taken with breathing or shore-picking techniques; Diving for abalone is strictly prohibited. [44] Abalone is not permitted to be captured south of the mouth of San Francisco Bay. [45] A size of at least 7 inches (180 mm) measured above the shell is present.

A person can only own three abalone at any given time. [46] [47] The total allowable catch of pearls, also known as abalone, has fallen rapidly over the years to currently 100 tonnes. In Japan, live and raw abalone is used in awabi sushi or served steamed, salted, boiled, chopped or cooked in soy sauce. Salted and fermented abalone intestines are the main ingredient in Tottsuru, a local dish made from Honshū. Tottsuru is mainly enjoyed with sake. [37] Abalone has been harvested around the world for centuries as a source of food and decoration. Abalone shells and related materials, such as their claw-shaped pearls and mother-of-pearl, were used as jewelry and for buttons, buckles, and inlays. [18] [19] [20] These shells have been found in archaeological sites around the world, from 100,000-year-old deposits in blombos Cave in South Africa to historic Chinese abalone in the Channel Islands of northern California. [21] [22] For at least 12,000 years, abalons were harvested around the Channel Islands to such an extent that mussels in the area lost size four thousand years ago.

[23] On these, we walk around and collect empty abalone shells and sea eggs and other relics raised by winter storms.