"LOS ANGELES -- White abalone, the endangered shellfish that once numbered in the millions off the Southern California coast, have declined precipitously over the last decade and are on the brink of extinction, a study has found."

"In research published this week, scientists for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported "a dramatic and continued decline" in the population of hard-shelled sea snails, a trend that has only worsened since they were protected from overfishing in the 1990s.

Underwater surveys found a 78 percent drop in the number of white abalone lodged between rocks off the coast of San Diego since 2002, with most of those remaining either so old or isolated from one another they can no longer reproduce. Researchers warned that, without the ability to spawn a new generation, the aging sea creatures, which can live up to 35 years, will not be able to recover on their own."

Tony Barboza reports for the Los Angeles Times July 4, 2012. [2]