• May. 4, 2009
Abalone
Abalone
By Jill
Abalone were first found in Japan but then discovered worldwide. In the United States they are found on the Pacific Coast from Alaska to California. They are found at rocky exposed shorelines and in salt water with temperature to 2c to 30c. They also like to hang out in Nerecystis kelp beds.
The out side of an Abalone’s shell is bumpy and sometimes has a few barnacles on it. The inside of the shell is silvery white to green-red. There are five holes on the shell followed by several bumps along the edge of the shell. As the Abalone grows these openings fuse and are replaced. These holes are for the rich oxygen water that comes in and the carbon dioxide to come out. The waste that comes out stains the shell so the Abalone’s shell looks like a rock.
Juveniles tend to hang around red algae patches, and migrate much more then adults. Abalone has sharp teeth to munch down their salt of seaweed. But they also have to have a sharp eye out for other predators such as octopus, Sea stars, crab, sea otters, eels, and lobsters. If it is not harvested or eaten by a predator an Abalone live to about 15 years.
Abalone has been harvested for over hundreds of years. The first record of harvesting occurred in Japan in 30 A.D. To harvest, the abalone must be pried off the rocks. Abalone meat is considered to be a delicacy around the world. It is creamy white in appearance and should be cooked briefly or it will become tough. There are over 300 abalone harvest farms in China.
The abalone is not just used for its meat, but also its shell. Their shells make beautiful jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. The abalone pearl has a distinctive horn shape and a bluish green rainbow of color. It has also been used to make decorative items such as furniture inlays and music boxes. This certainly is an amazing little creature in God’s big world.
