GROWTH OF BLACK ABALONE, HALIOTIS-CRACHERODII LEACH, AT SAN-MIGUEL ISLAND AND POINT ARGUELLO, CALIFORNIA

Black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) growth studies were done at 3 int ertidal locations on San Miguel Island and at a mainland site, Point A rguello, in southern California from 1986 to 1990. We compared growth, determined from tag-recapture, among sites. Data were analyzed using likelihood methodology, including nonlinear least squares for paramete r estimation, likelihood ratio test for hypothesis testing, and the vo n Bertalanffy growth model. Growth varied both by location and year, w hich was a possible effect of a lethal disease called withering syndro me (WS). At sites that were apparently unaffected by WS, growth was op timum and similar. A discussion of growth relevant to future recovery of black abalone populations is presented.