Highest Number of Abalone Harvested in Last Decade

May 17, 2012

Question: When in the last decade were the most abalone harvested? (Anonymous)

Answer: In 2007, a total of 309,000 abalone were harvested along the North Coast, which marked the highest abalone harvest season of the decade. That was the only year between 2002 and 2010 that more than 300,000 were harvested. According to DFG Environmental Biologist Jerry Kashiwada, these figures are calculated from a sampling of abalone report cards that were returned to us and a systematic telephone survey. The annual average for 2002 to 2010 was 264,000. Since this is based on what is entered on cards and wardens often encounter people who fail to complete their cards, we believe it represents the minimum number taken.