Rush to rescue thousands of endangered abalone buried in Big Sur landslideshttps://archive.ph/6ACb5#selection-1381.0-1381.75Three months ago, when a series of winter storms blasted Central California and sent scores of mudflows down steep canyons destabilized by wildfire, thousands of black abalone on the rocky shores of Big Sur were buried alive. As the death toll grew and concern mounted about the survival of the species, Bragg and her colleagues transformed from researchers to rescuers.
For several weeks, the scientists have been digging abalone out of dirt and debris, packing them in coolers and taking them to a makeshift rehab facility. The campaign has continued, as the southern end of Big Sur that burned remains largely unsettled, and rocks, fallen trees and sediment continue to shift and pose hazards to the gastropod.
“When you’re talking about an endangered species and a limited genetic pool, every individual you save has the potential to save the remaining population,†said Bragg, reached by phone as she drove to one of the spots where a charred hillside had unleashed a deadly debris flow to the sea. “We went out expecting to do an initial rescue and thinking that was it. But it’s been going on for a while.â€
The black abalone has been severely over-fished because, properly prepared, it's delicious.
