Some scientists believe that humans have eaten a marine species to near-extinction for the first time. The white abalone, which lives along the California coast and is highly prized by gourmets, was overfished in the 1970s and, though it is now illegal to fish for it, the sea snail’s population is still severely depleted and not likely to improve on its own. Responding to a petition by enviros, the feds are considering adding the abalone to the Endangered Species List. Potential plans for saving the species include raising it on farms so it can be restocked in its native habitat, and having divers move wild individuals closer to one another so they can mate.
