White Abalone Survey
|
| 7-11 December
2004 |
Background
In May 2001, the White Abalone became the first
marine invertebrate to receive federal protection as
an endangered species.
Old surveys recorded abalone around the Channel Islands,
near Santa Barbara, California. |
|
White
abalone |
| To discover if
the abalone were still there, The California Department
of Fish and Game commissioned MARE to survey the area
and also identify potential sites for abalone restoration. |
|
Methods
-- 10 km of habitat off Santa Cruz Island was surveyed
and videotaped by ROV.
-- Live video footage was used to guide divers to
suitable locations for Baby Abalone Recruitment Traps
(BARTs). |
|
|
| Results |
Baby
Abalone Recruitment Trap (BART) |
-- Four abalone
were recorded
-- 16 BARTs were deployed by divers
-- Video footage was analyzed and suitable abalone habitat
mapped |
