DFG News Archive

Fishermen Must Return Punch Cards for the Now Closed 2005 Recreational Abalone Season

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) today reminded abalone fishermen that they must turn in their abalone permit report cards by Dec. 30, 2005. The 2005 recreational abalone season closed as scheduled on Wed., Nov. 30. These cards, also known as abalone “punch cards,” must be returned to DFG even if no abalone were taken. Cards should be returned to DFG, 19160 South Harbor Drive, Fort Bragg, CA 95437-5798.

Abalone punch cards report the dates, times, and locations for each catch of abalone a fisherman makes during the annual recreational season. Fishermen have to punch a hole on the card for each abalone taken. In order to take abalone, fisherman 16 years of age and older are required to possess a punch card and an annual sport fishing license.

Scientists use information from a season’s punch cards to help them manage the abalone fishery. Using the punch card data, scientists estimate the abalone catch for the entire fishery and for specific sites along California’s coast. As the accuracy of these estimates increases with the number of cards returned, it is important for DFG to receive all cards held by fishermen.

The 2005 recreational abalone season is split, and it runs April through June, and August through November. July is closed to the sport take of abalone. The daily bag limit for abalone is three, and a total of 24 is allowed to be taken per year.

Information about abalone permit report cards and the Abalone Recovery and Management Plan is available on the DFG's Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/abalone.html.