The pinto abalone native to the U.S. West Coast will apparently not be granted federal protection, according to the National Marine Fisheries Services. Petitions to declare the pinto abalone an endangered species were made last year.

Measuring six inches, this sea snail is considered a delicacy and its green and red mother of pearl shell is often used for jewelry. This particular sea snail species are now rarely sighted in Northern California (where the snails are indigenous) and in southern parts of the west coast from Baja, California to Alaska. 

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Wildlife conservationists expressed their concerns about the dwindling populations of the pinto abalone. The fisheries service launched an investigation of the snail's natural habitat to determine the snail's endangered status.

The fisheries service said wild pinto abalone populations were affected by inadequate law and conservationist enforcements, particularly overharvesting. This, however, isn't considered a threat or a cause of extinction in the near future.

The National Resource Diversity Center is disappointed with the federal agency's report as the agency is still considering the sea snail under the endangered species act.

According to Brad Sewell, the center's senior attorney, it's considered poor strategy if the federal agency will have to delay its decision as the delicate sea snail relies on this conservation action to prevent its imminent extinction.

The pinto abalone is often harvested during recreational and commercial fishing across the U.S. west coast. Poaching and ocean acidification along with global warming have already damaged the sea snail's habitat along with its wild populations.

TagsNo Endangered Species Protection for Pinto Abalone, pinto abalone, Endangered Species Act, NOAA, national marine fisheries services, US, california, Alaska, global warming