From 1972-1973, researchers studying red abalone populations at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse Station and Van Damme State Park found that the level at which human predation occurs can have profound effects on the age class structure of each population.

For many years, the abalone at Van Damme were heavily fished and the population structure reflected a notable lack of larger, older individuals.

This disease has had a historically grim effect on the species overall, decimating populations across their native habitat.

Elevated water temperatures have been shown to speed up the progression and transmission of withering syndrome in infected individuals.

This was shown in a 2005 study which was the first to indicate that temperature has a significant effect on Rickettsiales-like, prokaryote induced wasting syndrome transmission.

The Native American Chumash peoples also harvested this species along the Central California coast in the pre-contact era.

[13] The Chumash and other California Indians also used red abalone shells to make a variety of fishhooks, beads, ornaments, and other artifacts.

This worm escaped into the ocean at Cayucos, California, where an abalone farm had long been established.

Scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara and the Department of Fish and Wildlife joined the staff of the abalone farm and many volunteers to eradicate the pest.

[16] Its spread was aided by the Department of Fish and Game, which planted infected abalone into the wild north of Point Conception.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will begin a program to reintroduce abalone.

Unlike some aquaculture operations, the farming of abalone is considered to be a form of sustainable agriculture.

[18] Few chemicals are used in the process and the abalone are fed locally harvested kelp, which promptly grows back in abundance.