Selling Abalone Shells

Betty Leonard — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:13:36 GMT

Is it OK to sell various size abalone shells either on line or at a retail site.

RE: Selling Abalone Shells

ladycarbo — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:25:01 GMT

Yes! why not?? people use the various sizes for various things. If they're small shells you can make bracelets, necklaces etc. with them. If you only have a few they'll buy the 'few' and build their collection up to make bigger things.

RE: Selling Abalone Shells

jdec96 — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:19:08 GMT

after some searching, i found an article. There are some species that are endangered and it is illegal to harvest them, unless you have a permit and tags(see below);

Two highly endangered White Abalone. Prohibitions on commercial and recreational harvest of this species have been in place since 1996.

Sport harvesting of red abalone is permitted with a California fishing license and an abalone stamp card. New in 2008, the abalone card also comes with a set of 24 tags. Legal-size abalone must be tagged immediately. Abalone may only be taken using breath-hold techniques or shorepicking; scuba diving for abalone is strictly prohibited. Taking of abalone is not permitted south of the mouth of the San Francisco Bay. There is a size minimum of seven inches (178 mm) measured across the shell and a quantity limit of three per day and 24 per year. A person may be in possession of only three abalone at any given time.

Abalone may only be taken from April to November, not including July. Transportation of abalone may only legally occur while the abalone is still attached in the shell. Sale of sport-obtained abalone is illegal, including the shell. Only red abalone may be taken; black, white, pink, and flat abalone are protected by law.

An abalone diver is normally equipped with a thick wetsuit, including a hood, booties, and gloves, and usually also a mask, snorkel, weight belt, abalone iron, and abalone gauge. Alternatively, the rock picker can feel underneath rocks at low tides for abalone. Abalone are mostly taken in depths from a few inches up to 10 m (33 ft); less common are freedivers who can work deeper than 10 m (33 ft). Abalone are normally found on rocks near food sources (kelp). An abalone iron is used to pry the abalone from the rock before it can fully clamp down. Divers commonly dive out of boats, kayaks, tube floats or directly off the shore. An eight-inch (203 mm) abalone is considered a good catch, a nine-inch (229 mm) abalone extremely good, and a ten-inch (254 mm) or larger abalone a trophy catch.

RE: Selling Abalone Shells

ladycarbo — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:28:38 GMT

In reply to both posted question and other answer, I was led to believe you weren't talking about fishing, harvesting etc. but to retail beads and if you can sell them like the rest of the bead stores do. I thought this was a simple question not one requiring permits and laws,,yada yada....sorry, if I got the question wrong.