The pinto abalone is the only abalone species found in Washington waters. This native species has cultural and ecological significance, grazing rock surfaces and maintaining the health of rocky reef habitat and kelp beds. Population declines have been precipitous; the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) documented a ~98% decline from 1992 to 2017, leading WDFW to formally list pinto abalone as a State endangered species in 2019.

In response to signs of population collapse, WDFW, the University of Washington, PSRF and NOAA launched a collaborative effort in 2003 to examine strategies to reverse population declines and establish a conservation aquaculture program that has produced healthy, genetically diverse juveniles for restoration. Since 2009, nearly 50,000 juveniles from our conservation hatchery have been released to rocky reef habitat in the San Juan Islands and surroundings. These animals, representing well over 200 genetically distinct families, were deployed to better understand outplant methods and to rebuild populations at 29 different sites across a wide geographic range.

PSRF and partners are transitioning from research to full-bore restoration based on substantial strides in optimizing hatchery production and outplant strategies. The State has provided critical investment in these efforts. We are supporting capacity-building at WDFW, developing a State abalone recovery plan, establishing and managing grow- out facilities, expanding field work, and bolstering the underlying genetics and disease work. With these actions we have a real chance of rebuilding iconic and important pinto abalone populations in Washington waters.