Abalone ( Haliotis spp.) reproductive status can be difficult to determine using traditional visual assessments and often rely on lethal histological analyses for conclusive results . However, l ethal examinations of endangered species are strictly prohibited. Here, we explored the usefulness of non-invasive ultrasonography as an equivalent means of establishing the reproductive state of abalone compared to histological evaluations . Red abalone sourced from The Cultured Abalone Farm (Goleta, CA) were used to test our methods. We found that ultrasound technology successfully distinguishes between reproductive and digestive tissues allowing for accurate representation of ultrasound index scores . Therefore, we establish that ultrasonography is a successful tool in generating gonad index scores, which can be used to track the development of reproductive tissues over time in both endangered and cultured species of abalone. Monitoring ultrasound gonad index scores over time can be useful for informing when individual abalone have spawned or are ready to be spawned, enhancing production. We recommend the use of non-invasive ultrasonography within the shellfish aquaculture industry to enhance both food production and conservation breeding programs.