Posted by on June 24, 2005 at 06:59:47:
The Department of Fish and Game will be conducting the second Fish and Wildlife checkpoint of the year on Sunday, June 26. The checkpoint will be conducted on the Mendocino County coast at a location along Highway 20. This checkpoint is timed to coincide with a major low tide series during which time there are a substantial number of people harvesting abalone.
Fish and Wildlife checkpoints are a useful method to educate the public about laws, regulations, and resource conditions. Checkpoints are also used for the prevention and detection of resource-related violations. During past checkpoints, the most common violations have been failure to complete abalone report cards, possession of abalone out of shell, possession of undersized abalone, and overlimits of abalone.
Abalone enforcement has been one of the top priorities for the California Department of Fish & Game for the past several years. Red abalone may not be harvested commercially in California. However, as abalone have a high monetary value on the illegal fish market, their illegal take and subsequent unlawful sale is of principal concern to the DFG. Enforcement efforts have been heightened, as a result of population surveys which show low numbers of juveniles due to poor spawning conditions during the last few years.
The limit for red abalone is three per day or in possession, with a minimum size of 7 inches. A fishing license and abalone permit report card is required. The seasonal limit remains at 24 per year. There are special restrictions on the type of bars (irons) used to take abalone, and a measuring device is required for each person. Be sure and pick up a copy of the fishing regulations at your favorite sporting goods store.