BLACK ABALONE REPRODUCTION INVESTIGATION: FACILITATING CRITICAL HABITAT EXEMPTION AT SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND FOR ENHANCED FLEET READINESS AND UNBURDENED TESTING AND TRAINING

Research to understand black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) reproductive biology (using red abalone [Haliotis rufescens] as surrogates or conspecifics) is necessary to remain in compliance with the San Clemente Island (SCI) Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP), and also provide a benefit to black abalone species as required under section 4(a)(3)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 35). The SCI INRMP’s main objective for black abalone is to “continue to monitor and support the recovery of the black abalone population in suitable rocky intertidal habitat to increase the population at SCI,” which specifically calls for efforts to “investigate factors affecting larval dispersal distances, survival, and recruitment dynamics” for black abalone. Federally endangered black abalone are currently present on SCI and managed under the SCI INRMP. SCI received a critical habitat exclusion for black abalone based on the determination that the Navy’s SCI INRMP provides several benefits to black abalone and that thorough management efforts are included in the INRMP and implemented on the island. Continued critical habitat exclusion is crucial to support the Navy’s mission on SCI. Thus, it is imperative that reproductive biology of black abalone is investigated to inform potential future translocation, outplanting, and captive breeding efforts for the species, with goals of eventual downlisting or delisting of the species at SCI and throughout its range.