NORTHERN ABALONE STOCK STATUS & FISHERY FACTS

abaloneThe Northern abalone was designated as a 'threatened' species by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife of Canada) on April 23, 1999, marking the first ever Canadian marine invertebrate to receive such a status. The 'threatened' classification means that this species is likely to become endangered unless limiting factors are not reversed.

The introduction of SCUBA in the 1950's marked the beginning of commercial and small recreational fisheries. Commercial abalone landings were low prior to the early 1970's, but peaked at 481.4 tons in 1977 as a result of increased demand and divertechnological improvements enabling exploitation of more remote northern areas of the BC coast. Landings then declined to under 100 tons by 1981 and remained below the 47 ton quota from 1985 through 1990.

Surveys at various locations along the BC coast have indicated that abalone abundance had declined by more than 75 % between 1978 and 1984. Increases in commercial catch combined with targeting of easy-to-see spawning aggregations resulted in excessive depletion of abalone throughout the BC coast.  Facing population collapse, the abalone fishery was closed in December 1990 to all user groups including First Nations, recreational and commercial harvesters, in hopes of rebuilding the depleted population.

 

Illegal Harvesting: A major threat!

seized abalone

Poaching has been occurring for over two decades. High black market prices are fuelling the demand, and some people continue to harvest in spite of the closure.
Illegal harvesting is the major factor in the continual decline of the abalone populations since the 1990 fisheries closure. 

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Share your knowledge of abalone areas so they can be monitored by Nisga’a Fisheries Department (250-633-2617).
Sign up as a volunteer to watch out for illegal harvest. If you see anything suspicious, write down the details and report them (1-800-465-4336).

Monitoring is only the first step to the recovery of this threatened species.

 

IF YOU SEE ANY SIGNS OF POACHING OR SELLING ABALONE:

      1. OBSERVE
      2. RECORD
      3. REPORT Call 1-800-465-4336

CURRENT EVENTS

 

  • Nisga'a Community Action Plan (Click here to download):  Involving local stewards via Community workshops in New Aiyansh, Gitwinksihlkw, Laxalzap, Gingolx, and Prince Rupert, and develop a plan to recover our local abalone

  • Map & monitor abalone: With your help, we can map Nisga'a local knowledge of abalone areas, and start minotoring population health

  • Abalone Patrols are being conducted by Nisga'a Fisheries to watch for poaching and monitor abalone areas

  • Coast Watch: Your eyes and ears are needed! Please help abalone recover. Report any incidents of abalone poaching or selling, to
    1-800-465-4336
 

If you have any questions, or would like to help, contact:

Nisga'a Lisims Government
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

P.O. Box 228
New Aiyansh, BC
V0J 1A0
Phone (250) 633-2617 
Fax (250) 633-2971

 
LINKS

Species at risk

Abalone Management

Abalone Education Lessons Plans

Nisga'a Fisheries web site

Habitat Stewardship Program Species at Risk

Oceanlink

Haida Gwaii abalone research
Partners

Nisga'a Fisheries Program

canada Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Environment Canada


BMSCBamfield Marine Sciences Centre

 

Program Sponsored by:

Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, Environment Canada Aboriginal Habitat Protection Program, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aboriginal Initiatives Program

Nisga'a Lisims Government –- Department of Fisheries & Wildlife

Logo Design: Clint Adams, Prince Rupert
Designed for the web by Phil Lavoie - BMSC Public Education Program
Maintained by Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre's Public Education Department

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