Fish and Game Commission Ends Abalone Season Early Along Sonoma Coast

The California Fish and Game Commission voted Thursday morning to
end the abalone harvesting season early along the Sonoma County Coast because of a die-off of abalone and other shellfish attributed to a red tide this summer.

The exact date when the season will close will be determined soon, California Department of Fish and Game spokesman Ian Taniguchi said.

Three of the commission's five members approved the emergency
closure at a meeting Thursday morning in Redding, Taniguchi said.
Commissioners Daniel Richards and Richard Rogers were absent from the meeting.

The abalone season typically opens April 1, closes during the month of July and resumes Aug. 1 through Nov. 30.

Taniguchi said this is the beginning of the slowest period of the abalone harvesting season. Last year, only 11 percent of the season's abalone take took place in October and November, Taniguchi said.

The Department of Fish and Game issues an annual average of 35,000
reporting cards statewide that are required of abalone fishermen, Taniguchi said.

The abalone season will continue in Marin, Mendocino, Humboldt and
Del Norte counties, Taniguchi said.

Bay City News