Welcome to the Pinto Abalone Recovery Plan engagement home page.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is in the process of developing a species recovery plan for pinto abalone, as directed by WAC 220-610-110. The department seeks comment on the recovery plan from interested parties. 

The pinto abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) is a large marine snail and Washington’s only species of abalone. It lives on shallow rocky reefs and kelp forests in the San Juan Islands and Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is prized for its delicious meat and decorative shell and was the subject of a state recreational fishery between 1959 and 1994.

Under the authority of RCW 77.12.020, the Fish and Wildlife Commission listed the species as endangered in July 2019 following a status review by the Department of Fish and Wildlife staff and subsequent public comment. The status review concluded that the population continued to decline even after the fishery closure, likely due to reproductive failure related to a low density of spawning adults. The status review also concluded that the species would likely become extinct in the state without additional protection and active management.

Please note:  All comments received by WDFW are part of the public record and will be available for public viewing - so please do not include private information in the text of your comments.  We will use this to keep you informed of this plan development. Comments are subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act, RCW 42.56.