The Port Townsend Marine Science Center presents Josh Bouma, Abalone Program Director at Puget Sound Restoration Fund. This lecture is part of the Future of Oceans lecture series.

Pinto abalone in Washington waters have undergone long-term declines, are currently at an extreme low abundance and are facing potential population collapse. In 2019, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) listed this ecologically important rocky-reef grazer as a state endangered species. Puget Sound Restoration Fund leads a collaboration of recovery partners aiming to rebuild stocks to self-sustaining levels. A primary restoration strategy is the introduction of cultured juveniles into the wild; partners including WDFW, NOAA, the PTMSC, Seattle Aquarium, the University of Washington, Western Washington University and others have developed and implemented a conservation aquaculture program responsibly producing abalone progeny for outplanting. Over the past decade, partners have carefully released 45,000 genetically diverse, healthy Pinto abalone to 28 restoration sites in the San Juan Archipelago, setting the stage for scaled up recovery efforts to save this iconic species.

The lecture is at the Fort Worden Chapel on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at 3 p.m.

To keep this series accessible to all, regardless of the ability to pay, there is no set charge for the event; however, donations are always welcomed and appreciated.

To find out more about this lecture, and the complete 2022-2023 Future of Oceans lecture series, visit ptmsc.org/lecture-series.