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I read a press release from Fisheries and Oceans Canada today regarding the Northern Abalone.\u00a0 I will discuss some of the details and provide a link to this article at the end of today’s fact.\u00a0 Until then though, I am going to entertain you with some interesting facts about the northern abalone (aka Pinto Abalone).<\/p>\n

You may be asking yourselves, what the heck is an abalone? Don’t worry, I am sure you are not the only one scratching their head at this one.\u00a0 Luckily, I am going to tell you what an abalone is right……now.\u00a0 The northern abalone is a mollusk.\u00a0 Basically, it is a large sea snail.\u00a0 The pinto abalone is usually about 4″ long but can grow to about 6″ long. They have a flattened, ear shaped shell that is generally a greenish brown colour but can also be white or blue.\u00a0 The inside of the shell is irridescent like most sea shells and change colour depending how you look at it. The shape of this shell protects the mollusk as well as reduces the resistance of water flow.<\/p>\n

Does anyone know one of the factors that influences the colour of the northern abalone?\u00a0 Well, the colour varies depending on the algae pigments surviving in the waste products on top of the shell.\u00a0 So now this poses the question as to how the waste products get on top of their shell.\u00a0 This is easy to answer.\u00a0 The abalone puts it there.\u00a0 You see, they have 5 openings on top of their shell that helps them survive by assisting with daily functions.\u00a0 Clean water and oxygen enters through these holes while the waste and carbon dioxide exit the body through these exit points.\u00a0 During the spawning season the abalone will also release their spawn through these holes.\u00a0 These openings are very important for the abalone and sometimes will require maintenance.\u00a0 Every now and again the northern abalone will stick their tentacles through the openings to ensure they are clean and free of debris.\u00a0 After all they wouldn’t want this major life support system backing up.<\/p>\n

All right, I mentioned that I would tell you about the article that inpired today’s post, so here it is.\u00a0 First of all, you need to know that northern abalone are a threatened species according to the Federal Species at Risk Act (in Canada).\u00a0 Well, the Canadian Government worked with officials from the United States of America and Mexico to successfully charge a company for illegally possessing northern abalone.\u00a0 This three year investigation resulted in a $25 000 fine.\u00a0 Similarly, through this investigation another company was fined $35 500 for illegally possessing abalone.\u00a0 Some of this money will be redirected back to the Canadian Government to promote conservation and protection of northern abalone. This is a huge victory for all Governments invovled and will hopefully help educate the public about the importance of all species at risk.\u00a0 To read the story then please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thanks for letting me talk and try to get my message about Species at Risk out to the public.\u00a0 Have a great day!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I read a press release from Fisheries and Oceans Canada today regarding the Northern Abalone.\u00a0 I will discuss some of the details and provide a link to this article at the end of today’s fact.\u00a0 Until then though, I am going to entertain you with some interesting facts about the northern abalone (aka Pinto Abalone). You may be asking yourselves, what the heck is an abalone? Don’t worry, I am sure you are not the only one scratching their head at this one.\u00a0 Luckily, I am going to tell you what an abalone is right……now.\u00a0 The northern abalone is a <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[136,4024],"tags":[233,348,4026,235,232,4025,234],"yoast_head":"\n