First Live White Abalone Found in Five Years During Channel Islands Survey

June 4, 2026

A team of scientists and sanctuary staff conducting habitat surveys in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary recently made a rare and exciting discovery: a live white abalone, a federally endangered marine snail whose population has declined by an estimated 99% since the 1970s.

An underwater close-up of an white abalone resting on the ocean floor. Its oval shell is heavily camouflaged, covered in sediment and small tufts of red and pink algae. It is surrounded by marine kelp and vibrant red seaweed.
A wild white abalone. Photo: Athena Maguire/CDFW

The sighting occurred during a May 12, 2026, research mission aboard the NOAA research vessel Shearwater as part of the Wanted Alive! White Abalone campaign. The campaign is a partnership among Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Fisheries, Aquarium of the Pacific, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation to search for living white abalone and identify habitat that may support the species' recovery.

White abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) are ecologically and culturally significant kelp forest species. Once abundant off Southern California, they are now so rare that finding living individuals is difficult. With so few remaining in the wild, the animals are often too far apart to reproduce successfully. That makes each confirmed live sighting important for scientists working to understand where white abalone still occur and what habitat may support their recovery.

"It's been like searching for a needle in a haystack." explained Julie Bursek who is the education and outreach coordinator for Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. "Community science, research partnerships, and habitat surveys like this one are all important tools for helping scientists better understand where white abalone may still survive in the wild."

During the mission, Bursek and sanctuary staff members Sandra Traverso and Julia Chavarry worked alongside NOAA Dr. Nancy Foster Scholar Kiirah Green and collaborators from Aquarium of the Pacific. The team surveyed areas near Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands, focusing on habitat characterization and testing a new environmental DNA, or eDNA, sampler developed by Green. eDNA allows scientists to collect and analyze genetic material shed by organisms into the surrounding water, offering another way to detect rare species.

After initial surveys on the southeast side of Santa Rosa Island, the team moved to a state marine protected area on the southwest side of Santa Cruz Island. With help from the Shearwater crew, including Captain Lucas Dutton and Matt Rollings, the team identified promising white abalone habitat.

The science team members posing together on the deck of the shearwater under an overcast sky. A large blue sign on the stern of the boat reads 'SHEARWATER' in bold white lettering.
Left to right: Jaimee Butler (AoP), Julia Chavarry, Sandra Traverso (CINMS), Melissa Fisher, Kylie Lev (AoP), Tyler Macias, Kiirah Green (UCSD), Julie Bursek (CINMS). Photo taken by Lucas Dutton (NOAA/CINMS)

During a survey dive, Bursek along with Jaimee Butler, assistant dive safety officer of field operations from Aquarium of the Pacific, spotted a suspected white abalone. They took video and a shell length measurement. Project leads at NOAA Fisheries later confirmed the sighting based on video footage, marking the first live white abalone discovery in the sanctuary's waters in five years.

The team also successfully deployed the new eDNA sampler and collected samples for future analysis. Next steps include conducting additional habitat surveys on the southwest side of Santa Cruz Island, attempting to relocate the individual, and processing the eDNA samples.

This discovery highlights the value of collaborative research in national marine sanctuaries, and how innovative tools like eDNA can be used in supporting the recovery of endangered species.