Posted by Eric Frasco on March 05, 2001 at 11:33:26:
In Reply to: Abs in S. Cal posted by Jonah on March 04, 2001 at 00:23:10:
Jonah:
There are still abs around but you really have to look to find them. The largest concentration south of Point Conception are the red abs at San Miguel Island. However, the population is only a fraction of what it was in the 80's when I first started diving there.
All along the coastline and out at the islands, you will see shallow concave depressions in rock surfaces. This is where abalone used to be. It is really obvious along the San Diego coastline, where abalone are virtually non-existent anymore.
As far as abolone being opened up south of San Francisco by DFG, I wonder if it will be in my lifetime. And even then, it will probably be in isolated areas and for limited times.
And I wouldn't be surprised if it gets closed up north as well. The reports that I am hearing say that there has not been successful recruitment (spawning) of the abalone for quite some time. If this continues, there won't be any new abalone to replace the ones that are being harvested now.
-Eric-