Exfoliation of fouling abalone, Haliotis discus hannai from shelters by commercial oxytetracycline (OTC) was observed in culture farms. In the present study, different components of OTC for exfoliation of abalone were investigated to understand how to work. Abalone were detached from shelter in 14,000 ppm of commercial OTC (main ingredients of OTC: OTC-hydrogen chloride (HCl), 50%; glucose, 49%; blue pigment, <1%), but not below 8,000 ppm. A 95% of exfoliation rate was observed in OTC-HCl (7,000 ppm, pH 2.8) but no exfoliation in OTC-HCl (7,000 ppm, pH 5.0), glucose (7,000 ppm) or blue pigment (140 ppm). Moreover 100% exfoliation rate was observed in HCl seawater of pH 2.8. These results indicate that HCl is the component resulting in exfoliation of the fouling abalone. Abalone was detached in HCl solution (pH 2.5-3.2) within 2 min. However, a lower pH and longer treatment resulted in delayed recovery of the detached abalone. Thus, exfoliation of fouling abalone can be achieved by a low pH treatment with cautious handling.