At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Invertebrates
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The black abalone is a marine snail of the eastern Pacific rocky intertidal. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
A disease called withering syndrome has caused mass die-offs.
Range & habitat
Rocky shores of California, USA, and Baja California, Mexico.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- A fatal disease (withering syndrome)
- Past overfishing
- Slow recovery
Why it matters
A once-common shoreline snail devastated by disease and overfishing, the black abalone is a flagship for marine invertebrate conservation along the Pacific coast.
Sources
Sources for Black Abalone
- IUCN Red List — look up Black Abalone (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
Frequently Asked Questions
What is withering syndrome?
It is a fatal bacterial disease that causes the abalone's foot to shrivel so it can no longer cling to rock; it has caused mass die-offs of black abalone along the coast.
Why is the black abalone Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite withering syndrome, past overfishing, and slow recovery. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
Last updated: