The tropical abalone species that is found in from Southern Japan to northern Australia is the donkey's ear abalone, Haliotis asinina, locally known as "lapas" in Cebuano or "sobra-sobra" in Ilonggo. "Mindanao could potentially produce a lot of favorable sites, weather, and availability of seaweeds," according to Vincent Encena II, and abalone specialist for the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center Aquaculture Department (SEAFDEC-AQD) a research and development institution based in Tigbauan, Iloilo. Encena said Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Sur and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) particularly Tawi Tawi and Sulu group of islands, where tropical abalone wild stocks may be found, are very potential areas for prospective abalone farms.

Mindanao ideal for abalone production. (2010, May 31-June 6). BusinessWeek Mindanao, pp. 2, 9.