Selling Farm Reared Abalone Shells

June 10, 2010

Question: Can shells from farm-reared abalone be sold? (Maria M., Sacramento)

Answer: Yes. Commercially raised abalone and their shells may be sold by the abalone farm. Only those abalone shells taken under the authority of a sport fishing license may not be traded, bartered or sold. Therefore, a person off the street could not sell them without proper commercial licensing pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 8030.