Abalone eat marine algae in the wild and on some farms. The Abalone
adults feed on loose pieces drifting with the surge or current. Large
brown algae such as giant kelp, bull kelp, feather boa kelp and elk
kelp are preferred, although most others may be eaten at various times.
For cultured abalone, many farms now use high quality manufactured
food, which is healthy, efficient and produces very high quality meat.
Wild abalone tend to stay in one location waiting for food to drift
by. However, they will move daily, seasonally or when food becomes
scarce for a long period. The Abalone color banding on many abalone
shells is due to changes in the types of algae eaten. Juvenile abalone
graze on rock encrusting coralline algae and on diatoms and bacterial
films. As they grow they increasingly rely on drift algae.