White Abalone Recovery Efforts

May 2, 2025

CDFW’s Shellfish Health Laboratory has been working with UC Davis to help the recovery of White Abalone at the Bodega Marine Laboratory (BML), as part of the White Abalone Recovery Program. White abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) could once be found from Baja California to Point Conception and the Channel Islands. Populations significantly declined in the 1970s as the result of commercial fishing and in 2001 they became the first marine invertebrate to be federally listed as an endangered species. The main goal of this program is to propagate the species in captivity and outplant captive-reared juveniles into their native range. CDFW is responsible for maintaining the health of captive white abalone populations and assisting with spawning efforts led by UC Davis. For more information on white abalone conservation efforts, visit CDFW White Abalone Recovery Project, and UC Davis White Abalone Conservation. Watch this video to learn more.