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On 29 May, 2001 the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published notice
in the Federal Register that it has listed white abalone, Haliotis
sorenseni, as an endangered species under the US Endangered Species
Act (ESA). This abalone, which was fished extensively off the southern
California during the 1970's, thus becomes the first marine invertebrate
to be listed under the ESA. The listing decision came following the
conclusion of a comprehensive status review and public comment
period. No critical habitat is being designated at this time.
The white abalone was designated as a candidate species in 1997, at which point the Scripps Institute of Oceanography was contracted to complete a biological status review. In 1999, NMFS received two petitions and letters from various conservation groups requesting an emergency listing and designation of critical habitat. There are currently fewer than 2,600 individuals left in the wild, fewer than 1% of the estimated population of the 1960's. NMFS points to overharvesting in the 1970's as the primary cause of decline of the species. Both commercial and recreational fishing have been closed since 1996 and there is no indication that white abalone habitat is at risk. Given these factors, NMFS declined the requests for an emergency listing. Following this listing, NMFS will develop a formal recovery plan that might include bringing wild white abalone population individuals together and developing other improvements in reproduction techniques, which may include a captive broodstock program. Recently, scientists succeeded in spawning white abalone in the laboratory, a technique that could prove integral to the species' recovery (see Sublegals 3:18/14). NMFS will also appoint a recovery team that will draft a recovery plan for public comment. For more information call Craig Wingert at (562) 980-4021 or Marta Nammack at (301) 713-1401. |