CA Fish and Game Cuts Abalone Limit on North Coast

The California Fish and Game Commission reduced the number of abalone sport divers can harvest along the Northern California coast.  The Lake County News is reporting that the new limit is 18  of the highly regarded sea snails, down from 24.  The new regulations also limit the number of abalone that can be taken along the Marin and Sonoma coastline to nine.

The new limits are the end result of a massive algae bloom in 2011 that killed thousands of marine animals.

Besides the new lower limits, the commission also closed the area around Fort Ross and declared that abalone fishing should start no earlier than 8 a.m.  The regulated start time will aid in enforcing the new rules.