Abalone are a popular delicacy around the world. However as shellfish that typically live in ocean habitats, an important question is how long abalone can survive out of water. Understanding their biology and proper handling methods can help maximize freshness.
An Overview of Abalone and Their Habitat
Abalone are a type of marine snail that have a single shell. There are over 100 species found in oceans globally with the main commercial varieties being red, green, pink, black and white abalone.
Abalone live on rocky surfaces near the shoreline, attached by their muscular foot. They feed on algae and kelp.
Common habitats include:
- Rocky intertidal zones
- Shallow subtidal zones
- Kelp forests
Abalone thrive in the constant flow of ocean water to provide food, oxygen, and proper temperature regulation. Out of their native habitats, their survival time is limited.
Abalone Anatomy and Physiology
To understand how long abalone can survive out of water, it helps to examine their anatomy:
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Gills – Abalone have a respiratory system suited to oxygen-rich ocean water. Their gills must stay moist in order for gas exchange to occur.
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Shell – The shell protects the abalone’s soft body, helps hold in moisture, and buffers temperature changes.
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Foot muscle – This muscle attaches the abalone to surfaces. It must stay hydrated or it degrades.
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Sensory tentacles – Detect light, odors, touch, and movement. Help the abalone respond to the environment.
Without the right conditions, these systems are put under stress and the abalone expires. Proper handling can prolong survival.
Best Practices for Keeping Abalone Alive Out of Water
Here are some tips for keeping abalone alive as long as possible:
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Keep abalone cool. Store between 36-40°F if possible. Cooler temperature slows metabolism and oxygen use.
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Prevent direct contact with ice to avoid tissue damage.
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Keep abalone moist and in 100% humidity. Use damp cloths or seaweed. Drying out will kill abalone quickly.
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Store abalone cupped-side down so the organs rest inside the shell. Keeps the gills moist.
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Handle gently to avoid damaging the soft body. Don’t force the shells open.
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Pack abalone with oxygenated water bags or gel packs. Provides moisture and oxygen.
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Avoid exposing abalone to light, heat sources, or dry airflow.
With optimal handling, abalone may survive 1-2 days out of water. Proper shipping methods allow up to 36 hours in some cases. But survival strongly depends on the species, size, and health of the abalone.
How Long Can Abalone Live Out of Water?
Kept moist and cool, abalone may well live 24 hours or even more out of water. However, there are many variables that affect individual survival time.
According to abalone experts, these are general guidelines for survival spans:
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At 50°F or lower, abalone can survive 24 hours when kept moist.
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At 60-70°F, survival may be just 12-18 hours.
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Above 70°F, survival is unlikely past 6-12 hours.
Larger abalone tend to live longer than smaller ones since they retain more body moisture. Weak, stressed, or damaged abalone have shorter survival times.
Ultimately, the key is keeping abalone cool, humid, aerated, sheltered, and undisturbed. This gives them the best chance of staying alive out of their native water. Time is of the essence.
Abalone Shipping and Handling Methods
To provide fresh abalone to consumers, specialized shipping techniques are used to maximize survival:
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Packing abalone upright in oxygenated seawater bags keeps the gills moist.
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Using Styrofoam containers insulates against temperature changes.
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Cool gel packs prevent overheating but avoid direct contact.
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Seaweed helps retain moisture and provides shelter.
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Fast, overnight shipping reduces transit times.
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Warning labels instruct proper cold storage on arrival.
Reputable vendors may guarantee the abalone remain alive for 24-36 hours when using these methods. Still, it’s essential to follow unboxing and storage guidelines quickly.
Preparing Abalone – Shucking and Cleaning
Once abalone arrive, they should be removed from the shell and cleaned promptly. This process is known as shucking.
Properly cleaning an abalone is difficult and it’s best to start with the right tools:
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Protective gloves – Abalone secretes mucus that makes shells slippery.
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Abalone knife or thin, stiff spatula – Insert to detach from shell.
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Tenderizing hammer – Quickly tenderizes the muscle.
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Kitchen shears – Cuts connective tissue.
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Toothbrush – Cleans membranes from shell.
Follow these general steps:
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Tap the abalone to verify it’s alive before shucking.
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Insert abalone knife and detach foot muscle from shell.
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Remove guts, gills, and any debris from shell.
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Tenderize foot muscle with light hammer taps.
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Rinse in cool water.
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Pat dry, wrap, and refrigerate. Cook as soon as possible.
With practice, shucking and cleaning only takes a few minutes. It’s an essential step for quality.
Storing Abalone After Removing From Shell
Once shucked from the shell, fresh abalone meat must be handled with care:
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Keep abalone refrigerated at 38°F or slightly below.
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Place in a container and cover with damp cloths to prevent drying.
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Cook abalone within 1-2 days for best flavor and texture.
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For longer storage, keep live abalone in their shells and only shuck right before cooking.
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Frozen abalone meat should be used within 3 months. Rinse off any ice crystals before cooking.
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Canned or jarred abalone can keep 1-2 years sealed but has an altered texture.
Eating abalone as soon as possible provides the true fresh-from-the-ocean experience.
Can Abalone Regenerate Their Shell?
Abalone cannot fully re-grow a lost shell due to their anatomy and life cycle:
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The spiral-shaped shell only grows in one direction as the abalone ages. Damaged areas can’t regenerate.
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The shell is covered by a layer of skin called the mantle which deposits calcium carbonate. This can’t form a new shell.
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Abalone are unable to flip over if detached from their shell, leaving organs exposed.
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A new shell would need to grow large enough within the lifetime of the abalone. This is unlikely.
However, in nature abalone can repair small cracks and holes in their existing shells by depositing more calcium carbonate. Large damages that impact structure and protection remain permanent.
Key Takeaways on Abalone Survival Out of Water
Abalone are adapted to constantly flowing ocean habitats. When removed, survival spans are limited. However, a few key practices can give them the best chance:
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Keep abalone cool, moist, shaded, and undisturbed. Below 50°F is ideal.
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Handle shells gently and don’t pry open forcibly.
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Store abalone cupped-side down so organs rest inside shell.
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Use oxygenated water bags and seaweed packing for shipping.
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Expect 12-36 hours survival on average, depending on conditions.
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Shuck and clean abalone promptly after arrival. Use proper tools.
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Cook fresh abalone ASAP for premium quality. Refrigerate up to 2 days max.
With care and speed, it’s possible to successfully transport abalone short distances out of water. Get them into the kitchen quickly and enjoy an amazing seafood delicacy.
Species in the Spotlight Priority Actions Image
Juvenile white abalone grown in captivity. ©Joshua Asel
The Species in the Spotlight 2021–2025 Priority Action Plan we made for white abalone builds on the recovery plan and the 2016–2020 Priority Action Plan. It lays out the specific steps that need to be taken over the next five years. The plan shows what NOAA Fisheries and its partners can do from 2021 to 2025 to help the species get back on its feet. These actions include:
- Improve reproductive output and maximize survival of captive-bred animals.
- Increase the number of tanks used for conservation aquaculture until the goal of 10,000 to 25,000 young fish for planting each year by 2025 is met.
- Expand outplanting and monitoring programs in the wild.
- Develop a shared database for recovery partners.
- Develop a comprehensive, multi-institution outreach approach.
In our first five years of the Species in the Spotlight initiative, we have:
- Expanded partnerships to support the captive breeding program.
- Over the last two years, they’ve gone from making thousands of captive animals to making millions.
- released about 4,200 juvenile white abalone as part of the first experimental release of juvenile white abalone into the wild.
- Designed a way to keep planting about 9,600 abalone each year until 2024, for a total of more than 51,000
- Expanded research and outreach partnerships with Mexico.
- Refined and expanded habitat monitoring to identify future outplanting sites.
By taking these steps, NOAA Fisheries, other federal and state resource agencies, environmental groups, and other partners will be able to stop the white abalone population drop and help them recover.
Watch scientists outplanting captive-bred white abalone in their native waters of Southern California:
2021 Partner in the Spotlight Award
Credit: Blythe Marshman, CDFW and Ken Paglia, CDFW
Jim Moore, Laura Rogers-Bennett, and Ian Taniguchi (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) have all spent their long and successful careers helping us learn more about the health, ecology, and conservation of abalone. Dr. Jim Moore came up with a number of ways to treat diseases and keep abalone healthy that make it more likely that they will be healthy when they go back to the ocean. Dr. The University of California Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory’s state-of-the-art captive breeding program was made possible in large part by Laura Rogers-Bennett. Mr. Ian Taniguchi has been very helpful in gathering eggs for our captive breeding program, keeping an eye on white abalone that have been released into the wild, and creating and using safety devices to keep the abalone safe while they get used to their new home.
What a Sea Snail Die-off Means for Californians—and the Climate | National Geographic
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