Selling Abalone Jewelry

August 1, 2013

Question: I’ve recently been to a few beaches where I’ve found red abalone shells that have washed up on the shore. I’ve collected a few shell fragments and have made jewelry from them. Friends of mine have shown the items to others and now they want me to make them items as well. My questions is ... Is it illegal for me to collect red abalone shells, and then make jewelry, then sell them to friends, and so forth? I’ve gotten mixed answers from the Web and have tried to navigate your website. I have seen no definitive answer. (Matt R.)
 
Answer: You may give the shells away or use them for personal use, but shells collected under the authority of sport fishing license cannot be legally bought, sold, traded or bartered.
 
People often ask what they can do with their old abalone shells. We get requests for shells from Native American tribes who use them for ceremonial purposes. Shells can be donated directly to a Native American Tribe, or they can be given to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and we will distribute them to Native Americans when we get requests.
 

That didn't answer the question.

From that answer, I gather that shells collected from abalone that were popped and tagged, cannot be sold. Fragments, collected on the beach can be, as it is not covered under the scope of a sport fishing license. This begs the question, what about shed antlers?

That didn't answer the question.

I thought it was just me. Seems like the actual question regarding the 'beachcombed" fragments was sidestepped.
I'm reading it like MontanaN8V as well, but could easily see a warden explaining how it is illegal....so I just give away ab jewelry I make.