The gills, mantle, digestive gland and foot muscle of 74 specimens of the red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, from five localities on the California coast were analyzed for eight heavy metals: Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni, and Zn. The distribution of these elements in the abalones appeared to be non-normal and the non-parametric Wilcoxon U statistic was used to compare sample concentrations. No correlation of metal concentration with size was found. High concentrations of Cd (up to 1400 ppm) were found in the digestive glands of all samples and are assumed to represent natural levels. Cu and Ag concentrations appear to be inversely correlated, with Cu decreasing and silver increasing from north to south. High Hg concentrations in the La Jolla-Long Beach area appear to reflect pollutant inputs; elsewhere Hg levels appeared to derive from natural sources.The results of the baseline program of the International Decade of Ocean Exploration indicate that, with the possible exception of Pb, the current levels of heavy metals in marine ecosystems derive primarily from natural rather than technological sources (IDOE 1972). A considerable amount of evidence accumulated during the program suggested, however, that local inputs of several of the heavy metals, principally Cd, Pb, and Hg, into estuarine and coastal environments might significantly increase environmental levels above background. The present study reports on the distribution of eight heavy metals in the red abalone, Haliotis rufescens (Swainson), obtained from five sites of coastal California, representing both industrial areas and areas relatively undisturbed by man.