The Historical Ecology of Abalone (Haliotis Corrugata and Fulgens) in the Mexican Pacific

Abstract

Abalone shells and meat played and play an important role in the rich economic, social y cultural history of Baja California. Chinese and Japanese fishermen and later the consolidation of Mexican cooperatives have all fished in this region. Information obtained through surveys and oral history from three generations of abalone divers on Baja California has revealed that over time catches have decreased and the organisms fished have reduced their size. The decrease in catch size and weight described by the divers generate an approximate 70% reduction in abalone’s reproductive capacity. Resumen:Conchas y carne de abulon desempenaron y desempenan un rol importante en la rica historia economica, social y cultural de Baja California, Mexico. En la region pasaron desde pescadores chinos, japoneses hasta la consolidacion de cooperativas mexicanas. Informacion obtenida a traves de entrevistas, reportes historicos e historia oral de tres generaciones de buzos de abulon revela la reduccion tanto en capturas como en tamano del organismo. Esta reduccion genera una disminucion aproximada del 70% en la capacidad reproductiva de este molusco.