The White Abalone Midwife

By Fiona Diskin

Everyone should love the White Abalone; as a keystone species, they maintain our kelp forests, allowing for high biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. They are understory algae grazers known by Nora Frank as the “lawnmowers and Roombas of the sea.” Few people love the White Abalone quite as much as Nora, the current husbandry and data manager of the White Abalone Culture Lab at UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory.

Marine biology has always been a part of Nora’s life; growing up in Hawaii diving with gorgeous manta rays and unique creatures had little Nora saying “I want to save the sea animals.” While Abalone are small in stature compared to manta rays, Nora has spent about ten years helping to save the White Abalone.

Nora’s relationship with this very special snail started at the UCSB Research Experience and Education Facility (REEF) as an undergraduate aquatic biology student. The REEF—like Bodega Marine Laboratory and the Sea Center—is another partner of the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program. The program was pioneered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) just before the species was officially listed as critically endangered in 2001. The White Abalone Recovery Consortium (WARC) represents a collaborative effort between NOAA Fisheries, the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and various facilities. The first successful spawn was at the Channel Islands Marine Resource Initiative in 2001, producing millions of embryos. In 2011, the program moved to the Bodega Marine Laboratory, and a successful spawn followed at the BML in 2012; this was the first successful spawning event in nearly a decade! While Nora wasn’t there for that milestone, she has been along for the ride ever since.

Nora Frank during her time as lead aquarist at the Sea Center, holding one of the famous snails

After the REEF, Nora worked here at the Sea Center, where she acquired her core animal husbandry skills. “The Sea Center is where I built up nearly all of my experience,” says Nora; it was also where she found her love for the White Abalone. At the Sea Center she began to learn the small details that allowed for White Abalone to thrive. Nora undertook aquarist duties, re-envisioned exhibits, handled inspections, and acquired organisms. From here, she took her aquarist toolbox up north to UC Davis and continued her journey with the White Abalone.

But what does it mean to be an aquarist…and what is animal husbandry? Well, there is no certain definition, and every day is different. Working in husbandry means you have not one, but a handful of jobs; suddenly you are a plumber, a mechanic, an electrician, and a carpenter all rolled into one. However, for Nora, one job stands out above the rest: midwife. This role looks a bit different for invertebrate snails than it does for two-legged land animals like us. While most mammals rely on internal fertilization, abalone engage in external fertilization through a process called broadcast spawning. When the conditions are just right, male and female abalone will release their respective gametes into the water. A pivotal moment in a midwife’s job is the delivery, and for abalone aquarists this release and meeting of gametes is just as important.

But the job certainly doesn’t stop there! Just as when babies are born, health and routine checkups are essential. Baby abalone require a lot of special care and attention, including chemical cues that induce settling. Before settling, abalone are planktonic larvae drifting in the water column, and then they must find the right substrate to settle down on. Once settled, they can undergo metamorphosis into juvenile abalone and continue on growing. This kind of work is the Bodega Marine Laboratory’s specialty.

Baby abalone all lined up on Nora’s hand. Photo by Nora Frank

The Bodega Marine Laboratory is the main site of the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program, and home to the only eight wild-born White Abalone currently held in human care. These eight abalone have served as a starting point for spawning efforts. “Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket!” said Nora when discussing these abalone royals. But today, each partner of the White Abalone Captive Breeding Program has their own population of abalone to breed and care for—and they require a lot of attention. Raising snails is more difficult than you think, but through these partnerships there is a continuous advance of knowledge.

There is very little literature on spawning and farming abalone, and even less on White Abalone biology. So when it comes to raising abalone, the missing advice can often be found in people who’ve done it themselves. Most of our parents would probably say the same about raising us! It takes a village…especially for baby abalone. As Nora describes it, it truly is a numbers game. Within her time at the Bodega Marine Lab, they’ve created tens of millions of embryos, but the biggest upward battle is getting them to survive the juvenile stage. By increasing the quantity of gametes, they can encourage more larvae to settle and increase the chances of juvenile survival. But youngsters can be tough and picky. From their friends at the Cultured Abalone Farm, they learned if you can’t grow microalgae you can’t grow abalone. Advancements propel spawning success forward. On January 7, 2025, White Abalone embryos were produced using cryopreserved sperm for the first time. These “cryobabies,” now four months old, were produced in partnership with the CDFW Fisheries Genetics Lab. It goes to show that advances in fields like assisted reproductive technology can have huge butterfly effects…like saving an endangered snail! The reciprocal exchange of information, techniques, and helpful pointers between the partners accounts for the success of the program.

A casual Tuesday night, pipetting abalone sperm with her team. Photo courtesy Nora Frank

Once the abalone have grown to 25 millimeters, or about an inch, they can be outplanted into the wild. Since the beginning of the outplanting process, nearly 20,000 young abalone have been returned to the sea.

Since the beginning of the program, there have been various roadblocks. In 2002, right after the program got off the ground, the captive population was hit with withering foot syndrome—this took out 95% of captive White Abalone. The foot muscle allows abalone to attach and move and when withered, it can cause starvation and eventually death. Then, in 2019, when the program finally gained momentum with a major spawning event and outplant, the COVID-19 pandemic put everything at a standstill. Despite these challenges, and their lingering effects, the past few years have been instrumental in bringing back this endangered species.

Looking forward, Nora said, “The overall goal is that we get so good at our jobs, that we are out of a job.” This consortium of aquariums, research labs, and aquaculture farms is helping the White Abalone get closer to a species recovery, but as the program grows in numbers so does the need for physical space and supplies. Getting the word out about these sensational snails is key to continued support. The Sea Center’s Saving the White Abalone exhibit is one way in which the public can learn about their importance and take a peek at both juvenile and adult abalone! Financial support is another huge part of giving scientists the resources to make a difference. Since the White Abalone is an endangered species, all funding for the breeding program comes directly from Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act. This year has been full of uncertainty in funding for this program, among many others. Since speaking with Nora for this article, all federal funding for the White Abalone program at the Bodega Marine Laboratory has been cut. Due to this, securing non-federal funding is key to the survival of the program. More than ever, it’s important to recognize the White Abalone for their ecological importance in addition to their stunning shells. Healthy marine ecosystems sustain healthy animals and healthy humans.

Nora takes to the sky as she escorts a wild White Abalone to the Bodega Marine Laboratory for spawning. Photo courtesy Nora Frank

There are many reasons why Nora has continued her journey with White Abalone recovery across her multi-institutional career in marine science and animal husbandry. One is that their story is a great example of hope for restoring parts of our ocean. The tangible results visible in the lab are a fountain for motivation and reinforcing Nora’s belief in the program’s mission. She sees herself being a part of this epic comeback in the long term: “In no way do I feel like narrowing your interest narrows the scope of what you are able to accomplish.” Her depth of knowledge will continue to serve the White Abalone and our local community—the REEF and the Sea Center couldn’t be more proud of our abalone midwife at Bodega Marine Lab!

The Bodega Marine Lab is planning to fundraise $50,000 by the end of the year to support their efforts in the wake of this funding loss. The first of four fundraising events happened this past July in Monterey. For many years, the generous support of the Santa Barbara community has enabled the Sea Center to be a part of this important effort. We are confident that support will continue so that we can continue to do our part to bring this species back to our channel waters. Keep an eye out so you too can support this special snail, and the amazing people who make it all happen.

About the Author
Fiona Diskin is a 2025 aquatic biology graduate from UC Santa Barbara. In addition to her BS in aquatic biology, she also received minors in professional writing in science communication, and theater. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, she has found a home here in Santa Barbara, and fallen in love with the local marine ecosystems. She hopes to pursue a full-time career in science communication, education, or writing, and eventually a graduate degree in marine science. Her favorite marine animal is a close tie between the Moon Jelly and the Bottlenose Dolphin.

Photo at top of page shows Nora assessing newly-arrived juvenile abalone at the Sea Center in 2021