Abalone must always be measured before they are taken off the reef. Removing the animals frequently injures them. As they have no clotting agent in their blood, the slightest cut can cause abalone to bleed to death. Animals put back into the ocean often subsequently die. In contrast, adults obtain most of their food by catching 'drift algae' - raising their shell and clamping down on algae floating by in the water.
Abalone are choosy feeders, preferring red algae.
Roe's abalone can live for over ten years. However, it is difficult to tell their age because size is affected by how much they eat, as well as age. Copyright 1998 Fisheries Western Australia.