The cultivation and harvesting (aquaculture) of abalone in California has boomed in the last few years. It is estimated that abalone production will reap sales of over 3 million dollars in 1994. Nearly 50% of the facilities are in the research and development stage, and production is sure to rise dramatically when new production facilities gear up. The Department registers all facilities and reviews their operation and environmental impacts at each site. Concerns for disease transmission and the identification of products as not being harvested from our natural resources are addressed.
The abalone produced at aquaculture facilities is marketed in many forms. Larvae and tiny juveniles are sold to other rearing facilities to be grown. Some abalone are sold to be planted in the open ocean in areas where abalone have become scarce. Larger abalone are sold as a food product to markets in the US and elsewhere.
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