Red abalone aquaculture in California provides an alternative to depleted wild populations. Welfare of this gastropod mollusc requires consideration of its sensory and behavioural capacities.
Red abalone welfare considerations centre on their demonstrated ability to respond to chemical predator cues and make movement decisions based on threat assessment. This indicates a functional sensory system capable of detecting and responding to environmental threats. Tank conditions affecting water temperature, flow, and food quality affect abalone health and behaviour. Disease management, particularly withering syndrome caused by a rickettsial bacteria, requires monitoring as affected abalone experience progressive muscle atrophy before death.