Abalone Aquaculture
The California red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, is a species of very large edible sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Haliotidae, the abalones, ormer shells or paua.Abalone is a highly prized gourmet shellfish, sought after for its delicate flavor and beautiful shell. The abalone shell, with its exquisite multifaceted mother-of-pearl color and reflective nature is used to create naturally beautiful jewelry.
The California Red Abalone was once so common on the U.S. West Coast that they were easily collected from the rocks exposed at low tide. Now our native wild red abalone is endangered. Pollution and increasing demand from the world market lead to near extinction of the species. Abalone aquaculture offers a legal and sustainable source for this product.
Abalone farming is a
sustainable aqua culture system that, when done correctly, leaves little
or no negative environmental effects. Natural, healthy ocean water and
kelp are the main ingredients. Unlike some aqua culture, growing abalone
has little or no environmental impact because they eat fast-growing
kelp, which regrows quickly upon harvest.
Abalone grow slowly. It takes a minimum of three years to grow Haliotis rufescens or "red" abalone, one of the seven breeds native to California, to market size. Only 35 to 40 percent of the total weight of an abalone is edible. The rest is mostly shell. But of that edible part, some 65 percent is protein. Other nutrients include selenium, magnesium and iron, and some omega-3 fats.
We select our largest abalone for brood stock. Abalone are broadcast spawners which means they spawn like fish. The eggs and sperm are released into the water where fertilization occurs. The baby abalone hatch from tiny microscopic eggs in only 24 hours and are barely visible to the naked eye. In the photo on the right, what looks like algae are huge numbers of baby abalone in a nursery tank.
Baby abalone eat algae which give the shells a green tint. When the abalone have grown to about an inch, they are transferred from the nursery tanks to large, comfortably dark tanks where they will feast on fresh kelp which adds bands of soft red color to the shell. Abalone are nocturnal and our cave like tanks of clean ocean water allow them to feel safe as they graze on fresh kelp. Here at American Abalone Farms, we provide the abalone an environment which is close to nature, minus the predators.
Abalone grow slowly. It takes a minimum of three years to grow Haliotis rufescens or "red" abalone, one of the seven breeds native to California, to market size. Only 35 to 40 percent of the total weight of an abalone is edible. The rest is mostly shell. But of that edible part, some 65 percent is protein. Other nutrients include selenium, magnesium and iron, and some omega-3 fats.
We select our largest abalone for brood stock. Abalone are broadcast spawners which means they spawn like fish. The eggs and sperm are released into the water where fertilization occurs. The baby abalone hatch from tiny microscopic eggs in only 24 hours and are barely visible to the naked eye. In the photo on the right, what looks like algae are huge numbers of baby abalone in a nursery tank.
Baby abalone eat algae which give the shells a green tint. When the abalone have grown to about an inch, they are transferred from the nursery tanks to large, comfortably dark tanks where they will feast on fresh kelp which adds bands of soft red color to the shell. Abalone are nocturnal and our cave like tanks of clean ocean water allow them to feel safe as they graze on fresh kelp. Here at American Abalone Farms, we provide the abalone an environment which is close to nature, minus the predators.
Mature abalone in a holding tank, ready for market 
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The foot of the abalone is a prized delicacy
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Tenderized abalone steaks are shipped worldwide
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The Pacific Ocean and backyard beach
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American Abalone's California red abalone is as good as farmed seafood can get!
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