The abalone aquaculture industry in South Africa has made it possible possible to restore wild abalone populations using hatchery reared seed. We present results of an abalone ranching and stock enhancement pilot project which conducted to restore an abalone (Haliotis midae ) population which was depleted by poaching. T he South African fisheries authority granted a right to a private company to reseed an 18km ranching zone at Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Approximately 3 million seed abalone were stocked to between 2014 and 2019, with resource protection provided by private security. A research survey conducted in January 2018 indicated that on commercially seeded sites the average density increased from 0.3 abalone per m2 in 2014 to 1.0 abalone per m2, with the hatchery seed contributed more than 50% of the abalone found on seeded sites. Poaching fishing effort was significantly reduced by the presence of the private security and successful prosecutions of syndicates by the state. Based on a stock assessment of the resource, an initial harvest of 33 tons was granted by the fisheries authority in 2021. The key to the success of the project is the TURF (Territorial User Rights Fishery) rights system which incentivizes private sector investment in stock rebuilding by means of exclusive and secure long-term rights. The success of the model has profound implications for the management and restoration of abalone resources in South Africa.