Abalone Season Officially Closed on Sonoma Coast

Following the of abalone, sea stars and other invertebrates along the Sonoma County Coast which was , California Department of Fish and Game officially closed the abalone season on Tuesday, the agency said.

Fish and Game biologists said that though exact reasons for the die-off are not known, the rise in deaths coincided with a local red tide bloom and calm ocean conditions known to respectively create toxic conditions and a lack of oxygen among the invertebrate population.

Die-offs in previous years in Northern California have also been associated with similar conditions, the biologists said.

The closure follows a by the state Fish and Game Commission to close the season in the area, where die-offs were observed along the beaches and coves in Bodega Bay, Russian Gulch, Fort Ross, Timber Cove and Salt Point State Park.

Abalone season remains open in the rest of the northern California coastal counties (Marin, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte).

Abalone fishermen who feel sick are encouraged to contact their physician and report symptoms to the county health department here.

Fish and Game asks the public to continue reporting any dead (or dying) abalone or other invertebrates such as starfish or mussels to Ian Taniguchi at (562) 342-7182 or by e-mail at itaniguchi@dfg.ca.gov. Reports should include the location, number and date of dead or dying invertebrates, along with type of invertebrate.

The agency also asks that divers not make contact in the affected areas along the Sonoma Coast.

Red tide updates are posted at the California Department of Public Health's website here.

To receive news feeds about Half Moon Bay and the unincorporated Coastside between Montara and Pescadero, visit Half Moon Bay Patch on Facebook and "like" us here. Follow us on Twitter here.