This comprehensive volume contains some sixty papers and reviews presented at the First International Symposium on Abalone Biology, Fisheries and Culture held in La Paz, Mexico. Introductory reviews in the book focus on the evolutionary origin, radiation and modern relationships of the genus Haliotis. Further papers review aspects of the reproductive process, larval energetics, mechanisms of larval settlement, and the ecology of settlement. Feeding deterrents and attractants, and the relation between food and growth are reviewed in a later section of authoritative papers. The natural mortality of abalone and its causes, predators and diseases are thoroughly reviewed. Several papers summarise information on the withering syndrome afflicting black abalone in California. A series of excellent papers and reviews then consider the problems of managing abalone fisheries. The models used are reviewed and examples given of the application of models to specific fisheries. Further papers provide new information on stock enhancement and the book concludes with case studies of the eight major abalone fisheries of the world with a review of the management of each. The book is divided into eight sections as follows: Part I -- Evolution and distributuion. Part II -- Physiology, genetics, reproduction. Part III -- Larval ecology and settlement. Part IV -- Feeding, growth. Part V -- Marketing, disease and predators. Part VI -- Fishery biology, modelling. Part VII -- Case studies of fisheries. Part VIII -- Culture.