Cultivation Process
Monterey Abalone Company (MAC) begins the culture process by buying
seed abalone. Typically, we purchase our abalone seed at a size
equivalent to 25 - 30 millimeters in shell length, and 3 - 5 grams
in weight. At this size the animals are already at least one year
old. The seed are stocked into the culture units at a relatively
high density in terms of the number of abalone. The abalone are
attended to on a weekly basis as described below for a period of
three to five years. During this time, the abalone are growing, and
the number of abalone per culture unit will be reduced so as to promote good growth while keeping the number of culture units to a
minimum. After about three years of growth, the abalone will have
attained an average size of approximately 85 mm, and they will weigh
approximately 110 grams each, the smallest size that MAC brings to
market.
During the grow-out period, the abalone are fed once a week. This
process involves hauling the culture unit out of the water and hosing it off with seawater to reduce biofouling. The unit
is opened, checked for the presence of predators such as crab,
starfish, and octopus, which are then returned to the wild. Then, enough kelp is added to feed the
abalone for another week, the unit is closed up, and returned to the
water.
Cultivation Units
MAC is currently utilizing two types of culture units, barrels and
cages. The barrels and cages are suspended in the water utilizing a
variety of mooring techniques that have been developed with the
practical experience gained through 17 years of working in the local
conditions. The mooring systems typically utilize ropes, metal clips
and plastic fasteners in a variety of configurations suited to the
barrel or cage’s specific placement and position.
Feeding
As outlined above the abalone are typically fed once per week. Giant
Kelp ( Macrocystis pyrifera) is hand-harvested in nearby beds from a
22 foot skiff four days per week and makes up about 95% of their diet. The other 5% is various species of red algae that is either cultured by MAC or collected from local beach wrack. Currently, MAC harvests and feeds
approximately 5 tons of kelp weekly. It is transported by our boat
directly to our facility under the wharf and fed to the abalone.
Kelp is a natural food of wild abalone, and is the only feed used by
MAC. It results in a farmed product that tastes like it comes form
the wild, and has the advantage of reducing impacts to water quality
as compared to feeding artificial feeds. Farmed abalone has been
listed as a “Best Choice” by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch
Program.