Seacrest underwater harvest protection

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eliseaboo
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by eliseaboo »

ScubaSamHam wrote:
pensacoladiver wrote:
Do the GPO spawn throughout the year or only during a certain time? It would be impossible to enforce a law stating an octo cant be taken while on eggs. However, if they spawn during a certain time, then closure might be a "reasonable" option.
"Giant Pacific octopuses breed throughout the year, though spawning peaks in winter. Males may breed with several females, but females mate only once in their lifetime. Over several days, females lay 20,000 to 100,000 rice-shaped eggs (avg. 50,000) in grape-like clusters of 200 to 300 eggs each. These clusters are hung from the ceiling of the den. Females remain with the eggs throughout the entire brooding period, guarding them from predators and using her syphon to aerate and clean the clusters. Hatching can take anywhere from 150 days to almost 1 year depending on water temperature. Cooler temperatures delay the development of the embryo and therefore lengthen incubation time. (Anderson, et al., 2002; High, 1976; Kubodera, 1991; "North Pacific giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini)", 2010)"

So, while there is a peak spawning (mating) season per se, the egg-bearing stage is not seasonal, and could last a whole year (so, octopus mamas anywhere could be on eggs anytime)... therefore, unless its possible to tell if a female has layed eggs in the past by simple visual cues, or if the females show signs of recent egg bearing (doubtful, hard to confirm once captured), then NO. seasonal spawning closures would not work.

I think the solution, as many have pointed out, is to get no underwater take of octos. There is existing policy for this sort of fishing restriction (only on snorkel, and far from the coast) in Bermuda. Although this is the reverse - everything except scuba allowed - it is possible and may offer clues.

THANK YOU for closing the previous thread. and THANK YOU for continuing your concerted efforts. I will contact you, Lundy, to offer my assistance.
While all sorts of situations are "possible" it is most likely that octopus breed in the spring, and lay eggs in the late fall. Most all octopus I've seen on eggs, and most we've had lay eggs while in our tanks were somewhere around the month of August-ish. I don't think a seasonal restriction would be that hard to time, given the minimal harvest of GPO as it is (and the history of seasonal restrictions on fisheries in WA). The problem I see with this idea is that after breeding, many males go through a period of "senescence" - a biologically planned death where they essentially wander around and stop eating until they starve or are eaten by predators. This makes these males excellent candidates for harvest, since they are already "sentenced" to die, and easy to catch. Any reasonably moral hunter will not take an animal who is rearing young in the first place, though perhaps a regulation stating this would not be out of line.

I struggle with the rush to ban or limit GPO harvest overall. I would not personally harvest a GPO, and I've gone so far as to ask any hunters I am with not to do so while I am diving with them (all were very receptive and respectful to this, much to their credit) but the GPO fishery is not in any danger - it's a very productive fishery in fact. 1 per day is a very liberal limit, yes, but it's also quite simple; requiring a weekly or monthly limit becomes harder to enforce and track. Furthermore, I know of few people who routinely hit this limit. And I do not think public sentiment will be in our favor - remember, we see these creatures in their natural environment often, but there are still many who view them as nothing but food, or as "horrifying sea beasts" that deserve to be conquered. Restrict the top few dive sites, yes...but be careful about limiting the overall harvest.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by ljjames »

I was under the impression that the gestational period of GPO eggs ranged from 6-10 months depending on the temperature of the water.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by eliseaboo »

ljjames wrote:I was under the impression that the gestational period of GPO eggs ranged from 6-10 months depending on the temperature of the water.
Depends on how an individual person defines "gestation" - an individual octopus may store sperm for at least as long as four months before even laying eggs (that's beyond the published research available for free online, but it's a situation I have seen, and I have personal knowledge of at least two such cases.). From the sources I've witnessed, late fall to early winter is the time when females are most likely to be guarding eggs...so if you consider the time from insemination to hatching it could easily reach or exceed 10 months.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by pensacoladiver »

Grateful Diver wrote:
pensacoladiver wrote:Can you fish at Edmonds? Can a boat drop anchor in there and fish?
All watercraft are forbidden inside the park ... including divers on scooters.

But let's not cloud the issue ... that is a City ordinance, and not something dictated by the state.

As a Marine Preserve, fishing of all types is forbidden.

I did once see a boat tied up to one of the boundary buoys, with fishermen casting into the park. They know there are large and plentiful ling cod in there ... but they also better hope the fish & game folks don't see 'em doing it.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Bob, I am certainly not trying to cloud the issue. Just trying to get correct information so I can possibly point out the difference between an MPA (which you all seem to have in the way of Edmonds) and the new idea of a "no scuba take zone", which is being talked about.

Again, to the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing currently set up in the state of Washington... a law that allows fishing in a certain area but NOT SCUBA harvesting of fish in the same area. That could be the uphill battle you are looking at.... defining a new law instead of simply enforcing an already existing one to a new area.

FWIW, I am actually for this idea at your Cove 2 divesite.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by pensacoladiver »

CaptnJack wrote:Washington absolutely has Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) sometimes for all species, sometimes for selected species, and sometimes just limiting gear types. So a "no harvesting GPOs by scuba or snorkeling/free diving" in some defined area has plenty of precedent. As would "no harvest of GPOs statewide", 6 gill and wolf eels are examples of statewide closed fisheries.

Richard, I knew I could count on you to place a response into terms I could understand. I don't recall ever seeing any gear restriction on SCUBA when I was there, but it has been 2 years. Having a precedent already set makes the job quite abit easier IMO.
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renoun
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by renoun »

CaptnJack wrote:Washington absolutely has Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) sometimes for all species, sometimes for selected species, and sometimes just limiting gear types. So a "no harvesting GPOs by scuba or snorkeling/free diving" in some defined area has plenty of precedent. As would "no harvest of GPOs statewide", 6 gill and wolf eels are examples of statewide closed fisheries.
I think in the case of the Seacreast Park Coves the obvious solution would be to define a MPA with a "doughnut hole" around the fishing pier that corresponds to the existing diver exclusion area around the fishing/ferry pier. I assume the either a distance from shore or a depth contour would define the seaward extent of the MPA. The MPA description could even state that hook and line fishing is permitted from the pier. I assume a similar approach could work at other sites of interest to the dive community.

The problem with this approach is that it would affect the recreational salmon fishery which does troll along the shoreline at certain times of the year typically following depth contours, tide rips, or signs of bait fish congregations. Our cause would not be well served by generating conflict with the salmon fishermen, they are well versed in the politics of regulating sports fisheries. It would be nice to try to seperate boats and dives at popular sites though so if it only had a very limited impact on trolling for salmon perhaps a limited number of sites could become full MPAs.
Last edited by renoun on Sun Nov 04, 2012 6:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by Sea Goat »

renoun wrote:The problem with this approach is that it would affect the recreational salmon fishery which does troll along the shoreline at certain times of the year typically following depth contours, tide rips, or signs of bait fish congregations. Our cause would not be well served by generating conflict with the salmon fishermen, they are well versed in the politics of regulating sports fisheries. It would be nice to try to boats and dives at popular sites though so if it only had a very limited impact on trolling for salmon perhaps a limited number of sites could become full MPAs.
Thus, solutions are being sought where boats and pier fishing are not affected. "No underwater harvesting (such as, on scuba) in this area" sounds like a good rule to me but I'm not an expert.

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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by CaptnJack »

renoun wrote:
CaptnJack wrote:Washington absolutely has Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) sometimes for all species, sometimes for selected species, and sometimes just limiting gear types. So a "no harvesting GPOs by scuba or snorkeling/free diving" in some defined area has plenty of precedent. As would "no harvest of GPOs statewide", 6 gill and wolf eels are examples of statewide closed fisheries.
I think in the case of the Seacreast Park Coves the obvious solution would be to define a MPA with a "doughnut hole" around the fishing pier that corresponds to the existing diver exclusion area around the fishing/ferry pier. I assume the either a distance from shore or a depth contour would define the seaward extent of the MPA. The MPA description could even state that hook and line fishing is permitted from the pier. I assume a similar approach could work at other sites of interest to the dive community.

The problem with this approach is that it would affect the recreational salmon fishery which does troll along the shoreline at certain times of the year typically following depth contours, tide rips, or signs of bait fish congregations. Our cause would not be well served by generating conflict with the salmon fishermen, they are well versed in the politics of regulating sports fisheries. It would be nice to try to boats and dives at popular sites though so if it only had a very limited impact on trolling for salmon perhaps a limited number of sites could become full MPAs.

Its much more simple than that.
E.g.
"No octopus may be taken from an area extending 100yards from shore beginning at Salty's and ending at Duwamish Head"
or
"Only angling may be used from an area extending 100yards from shore beginning at Salty's and ending at Duwamish Head"

This doesn't have to affect the fishing pier or salmon trollers at all. Although there really needs to be a minimum 130ft depth limit for trolling near Cove 2. I have seen downrigger balls go dancing by at 70ft before and getting hooked out there in salmon season is a real threat.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by lundysd »

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to provide a quick update on our efforts regarding this matter. As it stands right now, our mission is to...

1. Petition the WDFW to establish a ban on GPO harvest in the vicinity of Alki Cove 2 in the short term. This will be discussed at the WDFW meeting next Thursday (and if you're interested or planning on attending to speak on this matter, please contact me and we can coordinate efforts)

2. In the long term, begin investigating the ramifications of changing the statewide GPO harvest rules and regulations. This could take the form of designating several key dive sites as no-take locations, limiting harvesting to a particular season or to males only, or a number of other potential strategies.

We are exploring several other alternatives as well, including establishing a conservation area at Cove 2, and if you have strong opinions, a desire to help, or experience with these types of situations, please contact me.

Scott
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by lundysd »

I also quickly wanted to add that we now have a dedicated subforum to discuss these efforts -- I have invited the participants in this thread to join and discuss these efforts, and if anyone else is interested in helping, just PM me :)
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by deep diver »

found this on a dive site
OGD has contacted the Seattle Aquarium and found out they are working on a plan to protect the Giant Pacific Octopus. Details are not out yet, but we have every faith they will find a way to help these beautiful and intelligent creatures. They stepped in years ago to protect the Sixgill when they were being fished out of Cove2. Now let's all go diving and marvel at how wonderous all underwater creatures are!
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by LowDrag »

I was reading a thread on spearboard today - no I am not a member - and a lot of the divers over there are slamming divers here and on Scubaboard really hard. There are a few "spearos" there that have an understanding of what is going and why everyone here is so upset about this situation. If anyone here is a member of spearboard may be you could stop in at the California - Offtopic thread "Drama" and explain why it is such bad form for someone to do what these guys did. Preferably in a manner that would show that we are not a bunch of "kelp huggers" and "bubbleblowing tree huggers" but a group of people concerned about keeping Cove II a place where anyone can dive and enjoy the animals to see there. It might also be a good idea to express that we are not against people that spear fish just not in a place like Cove II. There are a couple of members there trying to make that point but they are hugely outnumbered, they could use some help.

Thanks.


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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by spatman »

IMVHO, it's not worth the energy to try and discuss these matters online with people who have strong differing opinions. What's really to gain? Do you think you'll actually change their collective minds regarding this issue?

Is it possible they could make you change your opinion?
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by Joshua Smith »

LowDrag wrote:I was reading a thread on spearboard today - no I am not a member - and a lot of the divers over there are slamming divers here and on Scubaboard really hard. There are a few "spearos" there that have an understanding of what is going and why everyone here is so upset about this situation. If anyone here is a member of spearboard may be you could stop in at the California - Offtopic thread "Drama" and explain why it is such bad form for someone to do what these guys did. Preferably in a manner that would show that we are not a bunch of "kelp huggers" and "bubbleblowing tree huggers" but a group of people concerned about keeping Cove II a place where anyone can dive and enjoy the animals to see there. It might also be a good idea to express that we are not against people that spear fish just not in a place like Cove II. There are a couple of members there trying to make that point but they are hugely outnumbered, they could use some help.

Thanks.


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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by spatman »

We also don't need any more drama focusing on NWDC. Asking members to head over to Spearboard to fight the good fight will only result in more headaches for us. We've been fending off plenty of criticisms and trolls/sockpuppets since this Octopalypse started.

Lets keep this thread on topic and move on.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by LowDrag »

It was just a thought. I will let it go. Sorry for posting. :pale:
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by Gdog »

Dont appologize for posting. As they say, its the thought that counts....
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by LowDrag »

Thank you Gdog.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by Nalu »

lundysd wrote:Hey everyone,

I just wanted to provide a quick update on our efforts regarding this matter. As it stands right now, our mission is to...

1. Petition the WDFW to establish a ban on GPO harvest in the vicinity of Alki Cove 2 in the short term. This will be discussed at the WDFW meeting next Thursday (and if you're interested or planning on attending to speak on this matter, please contact me and we can coordinate efforts)

2. In the long term, begin investigating the ramifications of changing the statewide GPO harvest rules and regulations. This could take the form of designating several key dive sites as no-take locations, limiting harvesting to a particular season or to males only, or a number of other potential strategies.

We are exploring several other alternatives as well, including establishing a conservation area at Cove 2, and if you have strong opinions, a desire to help, or experience with these types of situations, please contact me.

Scott
I certainly applaud the efforts to provide protection to the GPO in the vicinity of Alki Cove 2. Your approach by starting to work with WDFW for a specific location that has social merit as the rationale should prove viable.

As for #2. I think the ramifications involving changing wholesale regulation of the harvest of a species that is not threatened will be more difficult. I have been heavily involved the last 8 or 9 years with the PFMC, and NPFMC with regard to saltwater harvest, biomass, and recovery levels of fisheries. When you start talking about reducing harvest limits, or changing harvest regulations, then the councils and the management offices that make these decisions rely heavily on data based rationale. Decisions for fishery regulations tend to go through 2 year or 3 year legislative change cycles, significant stakeholder input and community meetings, and then need based criteria. In this instance, unless I am mistaken, the call for a regulation change appears to be on the emotional response to the harvest.

A byproduct of this is that you may not have seen it yet, but any call to change regulation will be strongly opposed by the fishing community. Due to the rise of MPA's and MRA's, the sport fishing community has become much stronger in the political arena in the last 5 years and anything that will reduce opportunity to harvest something with out a need based rationale will be heavily opposed both at the Washington Fisheries Management level, as well as at the legislative level. You can bet that divers that spearfish will call for support from the fishing community, and they will get it. Any change to harvest regulations for a Washington Management Zone I think in the end will have to be definitive impact based with a clear rationale why there is a need.

I do my best to educate people on the reason NOT to kill GPO's. I have pictures and stories that I tell anglers when we catch them incidentally on the boat, and I've probably released at least 20 over the last 10 years, with not a single one retained. But there is a significant difference in asking for certain locations to be designated no-take zones, which most harvesting anglers will support, and trying to change harvest regulations wholesale that would reduce harvest opportunities everywhere, and anglers will vehemently oppose. Harvest restrictions are a huge hot button issue in the NW.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by Mtnsunlite »

I want to recognize the maturity that Dylan showed today by attending the Fish and Wildlife meeting. Dylan stood up to speak for closure of the site to hunting octopus and for better signage. I really think we should react to his actions by "taking the high road" at this point and even offer to mentor him in diving. He has stated that he will no longer be able to pursue his Rescue Diver certification because he has been shunned by the dive community. I am an Assistant Instructor and cannot teach it but I would like to see if any Instructors would be willing to OFFER to teach him Rescue Diving. I think it would go a long way in diffusing the potential lawsuit against some of the divers in our community. Time to leave negative feelings behind and turn this into a educational opportunity

I also think we have a real opportunity to use this incident to draw attention to the existing pollution in Cove 2 (high fecal coliform levels, heavy metals, PCBs, etc.). The public is now paying attention to this area and we should organize our dive community to communicate to our public agencies that we want cleanup. Clean up of pipeline outfalls, clean up of storm water pollution from watersheds into our creeks (where salmon live) and other point sources that build up high levels of pollution in Cove 2. Eating seafood from that area is a bad idea.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by pensacoladiver »

LowDrag wrote: It might also be a good idea to express that we are not against people that spear fish just not in a place like Cove II.
While that may be true for a good portion of people on this board, I do not personally feel it applies to everyone. I believe there are some that would like to see it banned completely.

I hope you don't take offense, but I see you have 9 dives, 8 posts and have been a member here for about 3 days. I could be wrong, you may know a majority of the people here, but it certainly does not appear so to me.

I am (at least I think I am) a moderately centered spearo.

I can't speak for the folks on other dive boards, but you can bet there are hunters watching the threads posted here as this is the center of the universe right now.

I don't have time to go back and find exact quotes, so I will paraphrase a few lines that tend to get the hunters up in arms....

"We have to start slow, lets get Cove 2 protected, get our foot in the door and then we can look at other sites and maybe even a statewide ban". Again, that is not an exact quote.

If the intent of the movement is to protect the GPO at Cove 2 for people to look at and pet, why would anyone care about somebody taking their boat out and harvesting one in 80 feet of water at a dive site that is unknown to the massess and certainly not accessible from shore?

There are fringes in all trains of thought...
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by Nalu »

I think pensacoladiver's perspective is absolutely dead on.

Support will abound for picking specific dive-centric sites to limit harvest due to desire of the stakeholders that wish to see, touch, take pictures and leave bubbles.
Opposition will be massive from both the spearfishing, and regular fishing community should the idea be to limit the harvest of a healthy resource due to the desire of a group that has no basis other than emotions.
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by Desert Diver »

+1
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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by Grateful Diver »

My impression from today's meeting was that there's little support at WDFW to implement a statewide ban. It's one of the options that was stated ... but so was "do nothing". It's nothing more, to my concern, than a data point on the continuum of possible actions ... with little chance of being seriously considered.

PD - if that's a direct quote, I suspect it was taken out of context. At our meeting the other night ... which was pretty representative of divers from a pretty broad spectrum of interest groups ... we started with the assumption that hunters have a right to hunt. The question isn't "whether" ... it's "where".

When the topic of spearfishing at popular dive sites was brought up one of the commissioners said something to the effect of "considering our typical low visibility, isn't a little dangerous to mix hunting and recreational divers at the same site?"

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Re: Seacrest underwater harvest protection

Post by John Rawlings »

Nalu wrote:I think pensacoladiver's perspective is absolutely dead on.

Support will abound for picking specific dive-centric sites to limit harvest due to desire of the stakeholders that wish to see, touch, take pictures and leave bubbles.
Opposition will be massive from both the spearfishing, and regular fishing community should the idea be to limit the harvest of a healthy resource due to the desire of a group that has no basis other than emotions.
I agree!
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