National Marine Fisheries Service Considers Listing the Pinto Abalone under the Endangered Species Act

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) published a 90-day finding (pdf) on two petitions to list the pinto abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and designating critical habitat for the species. According to NMFS, there is substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing the species under the ESA may be warranted.

The pinto abalone is a marine gastropod mollusk found in the Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from Sitka Island, Alaska, to Baja California, Mexico, though it is mostly found off the shores of Washington, Alaska and British Columbia. According to NMFS, factors affecting the species include recreational and/or commercial fisheries, as well as climate change and its associated impacts, such as low salinity, elevated water temperatures and ocean acidification.

NMFS is requesting comments and information by January 17, 2014.