Abalone divers on the Mendocino County coast.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will make a decision on the future of recreational abalone fishing off the North Coast. The ailing species has been trying to recover since conditions nearly wiped them out. About 5 years ago, disease in sea stars allowed the purple sea urchin population to explode which in turn left kelp forests devastated. Without food, abalone are dying off. Fish and Game may vote to extend the current ban until April 2021. There is little opposition to extending the ban.