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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Abalone

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Abalone		Red Abalone, Green Abalone, Pink Abalone, Awabi	U.S.	Farmed

Abalone

Abalone farming is a highly regulated, well-managed industry.

Consumer Note

Abalone is known as awabi when prepared for sushi.

Summary

Abalone has long been a delicacy around the world. You'll find several species of these large sea snails living in the wild along the Pacific coast of North America, as well as Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand.

Depletion of wild populations has encouraged the farming of abalone in many countries to meet the demand for this luxury seafood. In California, the commercial abalone fishery was closed in 1997, but sport fishing is still allowed north of San Francisco.

Although wild abalone populations remain in a state of recovery, abalone farming sustains continuing public consumption of this ocean delicacy. Farm-raised abalone are harvested when their shells are less than seven inches long, so larger abalone will have been wild-caught and, if from the U.S., may have been poached or sold illegally by a sport diver.

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

Aquaculture Fact Cards

Farmed Abalone Seafood Watch Report

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