This is outrageous. Every year we camp in Mendocino County & take our kayaks out to dive for red abalone. You must free dive (no scuba/snuba, can't even have the equipment out on the water with you)) in frigid water. The daily get is 3 which must be at least 7 “. You have to report every abalone on a “report” for Fish & Game. We always end up diving with people who sell theirs to local restaurants.
We've been doing this for 8 yrs. If anything, there are more abalone now than when we began.