A restoration milestone was reached last November when 3200 white abalone, (more than exist in the wild), reared at the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory were released back in the ocean. Two boatloads of divers, scientists and volunteers (including me!) journeyed to the stocking site off of Point Loma. Approximately one inch long and 3 years old, the baby abalones were placed in cylinders designed to open during that night. The cylinders were placed in predator-hindering cages that were set with cinderblocks, allowing hiding places but enabling the abalone to escape when they were acclimated and ready.
Kristin with cylinders.
Emotions ran high at the culmination of decades of research, and years of high intensity work by members of the White Abalone Recovery Consortium. It was a moment especially for Lead Scientist Kristin Aquillino, PhD who headed up the captive breeding program at UC Davis. For her, they were her babies, released for the first time back into the wild. Clearly affected also was scientist Jenny Hofmeister, Ph.D. who heads up the abalone program at California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and coordinated the operation and the events around it.
Kristin on left and Jenny on right, briefing teams before dive.
Ready to go!
Second vessel.
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