Abalone are one of the most luxurious and expensive seafood products around the world, with high demand specifically in the Asian countries because of the cultural, traditional, and medicinal qualities associated with abalone. Abalone aquaculture over the last decade has increased its share of the world abalone market with the decline of abalone fisheries. Abalone culture technology is now well established in several countries, and the industry can be considered to be in its maturation phase.
The total volume of worldwide abalone fisheries has declined since the 1970’s, but over the same period, farm production has increased from negligible quantities in the 1970s to more than 100,000 tons, the vast majority being produced in China and South Korea.
Other relevant abalone producing countries are South Africa, Chile, Australia, USA and Mexico.
In Mexico, the annual abalone cultured production has been stable, less than 100 tons . The number of new entrants also have been stable for the past two decades.
This presentation gives an overview of the development of the Mexican abalone industry. It discusses options and challenges for expanding and to sustain the abalone industry in Mexico.