CDFW Issues Citations For Northern California Red Abalone Violations

Despite the state’s red abalone fishery being closed for the last seven years and continuing through 2026, there have been cases of the prized mollusks being taken illegally, including a recent incident along the Northern California coast.

From a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Facebook post:

Recently CDFW wildlife officers issued seven citations to people illegally taking red abalone along the Sonoma, Mendocino and Humboldt County coast. Coinciding with a series of very low tides, wildlife officers conducted an enhanced maximum enforcement patrol to protect red abalone, a fishery that has been closed since 2018 and will continue to be closed until at least 2026.

During the maximum enforcement patrol wildlife officers encountered additional fishing violations not involving red abalone, as well as illicit drug possession and weapons violations.

Great work by the CDFW law enforcement team to protect California’s marine resources!