When Abalone Ruled the World: How Monterey, and small group of Japanese fishermen were once the Center of the Universe.

Japanese abalone fishermen began commercially harvesting abalone, primarily for markets in Japan. Those first divers, arriving in the mid-1890s, were known as ama and dove into the cold waters of Monterey Bay in nothing but thin cotton outfits, and a pair of goggles. Because there is about a 15-degree colder water temperature difference between Monterey Bay and Japan, this proved to be challenging! In less than a year of arriving, they began to import helmet technology with heavy canvas suits and brass helmets. 

In the spring of 1908, A German restaurateur named, “Pop” Ernest Doelter created the abalone steak in his Monterey restaurant. This invention transformed something once described as “like eating a rubber boot” into an international epicurean delight and creating a whole new market. 

In 1916, over 600, 000 pounds of red abalone were unloaded at the Monterey Wharf. By 1929, the California abalone industry was generating close to a million dollars in revenue, of which 75 percent came out of Monterey Bay. Monterey had become the true abalone capitol of the world.