A comprehensive review of the life history and fisheries for the northern abalone is presented with special emphasis on British Columbia populations. The literature on northern abalone throughout its range is discussed and compared with the literature on life histories of other Haliotis species worldwide. The exploitation (commercial / recreational / native) and mangement of northern abalone reources are described.

Northern abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) populations have declined in British Columbia, despite complete closure of the fishery since 1990 for conservation purposes. A survey was conducted to provide an estimate of population numbers of emergent abalone in areas known to have abalone present in southeast Barkley Sound. The objectives of the study were to estimate densities, size frequencies, and population numbers.