Clallam County MRC members reported this month that divers observed five Pinto abalone at a potential restoration site east of Port Angeles and that state and nonprofit partners may return to assess the site for outplanting. Project lead Jeff Ward reported, "we observed 5 abalone," and said the team surveyed multiple sites during a several‑day effort. He told the committee the discovery identified a promising habitat area and that Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Puget Sound Restoration Fund staff are scheduled to re-examine the site and "if it works out, they may outplant this spring." Ward cautioned that most animals located were mature: "the only downside of this is everyone they found was middle aged or older … So we're not seeing recruitment. We're not getting small ones." Committee members described the work as reconnaissance that may support a managed outplanting program using cultured animals from established hatcheries; attendees noted survival rates in prior local outplantings can be low and that follow-up monitoring would be required. Members also discussed the project’s footage and other monitoring tools; staff said video clips and GPS-marked buoy tracks were collected to document the observations. Ending: Members asked staff to coordinate with WDFW and Puget Sound Restoration Fund on the February site visit and to share monitoring footage and GPS logs with partners to inform any outplanting decision.
