Pinto Abalone Release

Graduation time has come!

The time for our baby abalone has come. They have grown big and strong. They have officially graduated! And they are on mark to be released...

Volunteers measured and counted the abalone monthly in order to monitor growth. Photo by Wendy Feltham.

Many of you know by now that for the past year, the Port Townsend Marine Science Center has been collaborating with the Puget Sound Restoration Fund on raising a cluster of pinto abalone to be released once they are a bit bigger and they are more likely to survive. This project hopes to aid in replenishing their decreasing populations in the Salish Sea.

"Tagging" the abalone so that once released scientists can continue to measure their growth and success. 
Staff photo.

Morgan Adkisson (l) from the PSRF, PTMSC Aquarist
Ali Redman (lr) and volunteers Sue Long (r) and Dana Africa
(rr) retrieving abalone. Photo by Lee Merrill.

Last week, Lily Haight at The Port Townsend Leader reported the story and explained why this work being done by the PSRF is so vital.


Cheers to all the work volunteers Sue Long, Dana Africa, and Lee Merrill have put in this past year to care, feed and count our beloved babies. And another big thanks to the guidance and oversight of PTMSC Citizen Science Coordinator Betsy Carlson and PTMSC Aquarist Ali Redman!

Abalone Crew featuring PTMSC Citizen Science Coordinator Betsy Carlson (rr) and volunteers (l-r) Dana Africa, 
Sue Long and Lee Merrill. Photo by Wendy Feltham.

Written by AmeriCorps Volunteer Program Educator Mandi Johnson.