A letter from the Director Hight of Fish and Game to California's aquaculture industry was circulated at the March 4 meeting of the Recreational Abalone Advisory Committee. Dated February 8 (?!?), the letter reimposed the ban on shipping RLP-infected seed abalone into northern California until the "best available science" suggests that it should be lifted.

There's some confusion about the date on that letter in that it dramatically contradicts a thorough update on the situation I received on February 22 or 23. That update included repeated clarifications that the ban was NOT in effect at that time but was expected to be reimposed shortly. If the February 8 letter actually was written on the 8th, it apparently sat in some bureaucratic backwater for awhile. All in all, a very fishy set of developments.

Regardless of how long the ban was lifted, it's known that Abalone International did import 6,400 RLP-infected abalone seed to Crescent City before the ban was reimposed. Prior to receipt of that shipment, the on-shore portion of Abalone International's operation was uninfected with RLP. Now, of course, that is no longer the case.

On a more positive note, the letter reimposing the ban was pretty forceful in the language used by the director.

Last Modified on March 7, 2000
norcadiver@sonic.net