Watch the space below for tidbits about and opportunities to go diving. If you have news regarding diving or want to plan some diving, send us a note. We’ll include it here.
Article on increased Ab take in recent years
Check out SCAN
DFG Steps Up Enforcement
Sea Turtle Restoration Project Announcement
California Ships To Reefs newsletter
AB 634 signed into law
AB 2503 signed into law
Soviet Era Sub May Become Artificial Reef
Lovers Point, Pacific Grove
Monthly Dive Links
Report all shark encounters for research
California Diving News Magazine
Freediving Classes
David Baird, freediving instructor from Wallins Dive Center, came to the May meeting and gave a presentation regarding the classes he teaches. He showed us a couple videos of the spearfishing he and his compatriots do while freediving. If you are interested, please visit the Wallins website, linked below, for more specifics.
Freediving class prerequisites & equipment requirements
Freediving class schedule
Article On How To Recognize When Someone Is Drowning
http://mariovittone .com/2010/ 05/154/
First Ab Diver rescue of the season
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100401/ARTICLES/100409971/1350
Another article with more information
http://www.mendocinobeacon.com/ci_14869520
First Ab Diver Death of the season
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100416/NEWS/100419644/1350?Title=Abalone-diver-dies-off-Point-Arena-
2nd Ab diver death
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/ap/abalone-diver-lost-off-sonoma-county-coast-92472864.html
Body Found by Fort Ross
http://www.ksbw.com/news/23506515/detail.html
Scuba Diver Dies While Spearfishing Near Little River, August 11, 2010
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_15746748
Shark Activity at Pacifica, August 2010
Another new story out of Pacifica that may be interesting to divers.
http://www.ktvu. com/news/ 24818678/ detail.html
Article in the July 5th edition of the San Francisco Chronicle regarding the increase in pressure on the abalone population caused by the higher number of divers in recent years.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/05/MNUM1E7B57.DTL
From: Marine Management News <marinenews@dfg.ca.gov>
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:50:10 -0700
Subject: CDFG News Release - Game Wardens Step Up Efforts to Stop Abalone Poachers in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties
California Department of Fish and Game News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 24, 2010
Contacts : DFG Warden Patrick Foy, (916) 651-2084
Deputy District Attorney, Mendocino County , Tim Stoen, (707) 964-5624
Assistant District Attorney, Sonoma County , Diana Gomez (707) 565-3098
Game Wardens Step Up Efforts to Stop Abalone Poachers in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties
California game wardens are waging an abalone anti-poaching effort with the aid of prosecutors from Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Poaching, in combination with a significant increase of lawful abalone harvest in both counties, is placing more pressure on the resource than ever.
"Despite our cooperative efforts, the abalone resource is struggling," said Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Law Enforcement Chief Nancy Foley. "Abalone are being harvested from the two counties -- via both legal and illegal means -- at an unsustainable rate."
It is never legal to harvest abalone with a sport fishing license and then sell it. Commercial harvest of wild abalone has been banned since 1997. However, abalone fetch $100 each or more on the black market. For many poachers, the black market value outweighs the risks of poaching for profit.
Abalone Report Cards
Ten years after the regulation requiring the abalone report card was instituted, the cards have proven to be an invaluable tool to help wardens catch poachers. Each abalone taken must be identified with a tag from the abalone punch card, properly filled out with the date, time and location of the abalone harvest. The abalone report card has helped wardens crack down on double tripping, which is the practice of harvesting a legal limit of abalone, off-loading them on land and then making another trip on the same day to harvest more abalone. Abalone report cards also provide biologists with crucial data related to recreational harvest. Data collected via telephone surveys and by field survey crews are also used by biologists to monitor abalone populations.
The collection of data has enabled biologists to identify a sharp increase in the lawful abalone harvest in Sonoma and Mendocino counties in the last two years. Harvest in Sonoma 's Fort Ross and Fort Ross Reef areas are the most intensive in the state, with approximately 50,000 and 60,000 abalone taken in each of these areas respectively in the last two years. These figures are double the amount harvested in those areas just a few years ago. In Mendocino County , Moat Creek's harvest was 14,000 over the same two-year period, while just under 16,000 were legally taken in Van Damme State Park . These numbers are also approximately double the harvest of only a few years ago.
Aggressive Enforcement by Wardens
Wardens in Sonoma and Mendocino counties are well-trained, well-equipped and highly effective at catching abalone poachers. On May 16, 2010, an abalone checkpoint at Russian Gulch on the Sonoma Coast demonstrated the prevalence of abalone fishing and poaching. Wardens checked 520 vehicles with occupants who had harvested abalone. Most vehicles had at least three abalone harvesters, while some had as many as six, and most had limits of abalone for everyone in the vehicle. Wardens issued 57 citations to violators and seized 84 abalone. The most common violations noted were possession of over-limits, retention of undersized abalone, failure to properly tag abalone using the abalone report card and altering an abalone report card. A June abalone checkpoint in Mendocino County of 215 vehicles resulted in 41 citations, 56 warnings and 85 seized abalone. Violations were similar to those found at the Sonoma County checkpoint.
Aggressive Prosecution of Violators
Prosecutors in Sonoma and Mendocino counties are some of the most aggressive anti-poaching prosecutors in California . Abalone poaching fines regularly range into the thousands of dollars, with potential forfeiture of dive gear and, for the worst offenders, jail time. Despite this deterrence, the number of repeat offenders remains startling.
On May 21, Randy Lee Appleyard, 26, of Waterford , was convicted of poaching abalone for commercial sale while on probation for the same offense. Following his plea of no contest, Judge Richard Henderson sentenced him to three years in state prison for felony conspiracy to take 45 abalone for commercial purposes, as well as a $20,000 fine and lifetime prohibition from fishing in California . Co-conspirator Christopher Michael Kern, 27, of Orangevale , was sentenced to 270 days in county jail, three years supervised probation, a $20,000 fine and a lifetime fishing prohibition. Co-conspirator Philip Michael Horch, 27, of Fair Oaks , was sentenced to 180 days in jail, three years supervised probation, a $20,000 fine and a lifetime fishing prohibition.
To best assist DFG, report poaching crimes to DFG's CalTIP line at 1-888-334-2258. Abalone harvesters are urged to turn in their report cards on time. The current return rate is less than half. Though this is an improvement since 2002, when the return rate was around 20 percent, it is still not enough. Failure to turn in the abalone report card can result in a citation. Data from the cards remains critical to properly manage the resource.
Note: This e-mail account is used to distribute information to the public. Do not reply to this e-mail. Direct questions or comments regarding the information contained in this e-mail to the Department staff listed as points of contact for this subject.
- Subscribe to DFG News via e-mail or RSS feed -- go to www.dfg.ca.gov/news
- Subscribe (or unsubscribe) to DFG Marine Region News Service (e-mail notification of ocean-related news and information) at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/subscribe.asp
SCAN IS A POLITICALLY PROACTIVE ABALONE HUNTER NETWORK. WHY NOT JOIN TODAY?
August, 2010:
The new SCAN website is up and running check it out at www.abalonenetwork.org all our communications will be online now, so everyone has to join or in the case of existing members, rejoin.
There are many diving issues coming up in the near future, including the Dept. of F+G wanting to cut our daily and yearly bag limit on abs. The way the ab fishery is being analyzed must be changed or we will eventually our bag will limit will not be worth the effort it takes to fish it.
Jim Martin and I have been very busy fighting for divers in the MLPA, San Miguel Island , and our legislation making possession of more than 12 abalone a felony was signed into law. Stewarts Pt, Richardson ranch, has been sold to an NGO. They want to make public access trails through the property, but no access to the ocean. This is now an SMCA that the Native Americans got back from it being a reserve. We need access and SCAN has asked to be a stakeholder in this process. This is a short list in a long list of issues we have been dealing with.
These battles are taking almost all of my time. Until last week I still had 24 tags, because I have not had time to go diving.
The opposition in these battles are organized, have paid full time staff, Biologists, Attorneys, and all the tools.
We have none of these tools, just Jim and I, and yet we have still had some major wins and caused some serious headaches. The abalone presentation we did started the war on the Commission that ended in a 3 to 2 vote on the MLPA North Central.
As divers we need to be organized, we cannot continue this work with no tools at all. I need at least a large group of members I can access, to create political pressure. Without, at least, that one tool, this is like dragging a big anchor up hill.
We have put together the avenue for divers to organize.
It is completely up to you whether I continue to do this work. If I don’t have a very large membership with me by next ab season, so I have some serious ability to effect politics, I will be back diving a lot, and done fighting these battles.
Join SCAN make your friends join SCAN.
We need all abalone divers as members now more than ever. There are many issues coming up in the near future that will affect your ability to dive for abalone, and we need the political clout of a large membership to affect those issues. A couple of major issues are the Dept of Fish and Game is trying to cut the daily bag limit to 2 and the yearly to 9 to 15 a year, and they are not spending enough of the close to $800,000 a year we give the through our tag money, to analyze the north coast fishery.
Join SCAN now.
In the war to retain recreational fishing opportunities, many battles have been fought over the years. We have been lucky to have had several key players from CenCal, SCAN, and the RFA working on our behalf. Thanks to their efforts we enjoy better access to dive sites, longer spearfishing seasons, and less restrictions in the face of the MLPA.
Currently, we are up against those who want to shorten both our abalone in possession limit and our abalone seasonal limit. No one is working harder to prevent that from happening than SCAN, in particular, Milo Vukovich and Jim Martin.
Milo is the only person I know of who has sacrificed his days on the water in his efforts over the last five years to work nearly every day on a voluntary basis to enhance our fishing opportunities in California. Now that he has delivered his ultimatum, I sincerely hope everyone takes it to heart. If he doesn't get the backing from at least 1/3 of the 40,000+ ab divers in the state, he's going to throw in the towel.
This is the time to figure out if the future of abalone diving is worth the $20 it takes to join SCAN. Milo will not be heard in the political arena without the block of voters we can deliver. If you want to make a difference, join SCAN, and ask your friends to do the same. They don't necessarily have to be divers. I know quite a few people who can't dive, yet still like to see gifted abs coming their way. It took me less than a minute to rejoin SCAN today. Go for it! http://www.abalonenetwork.org/
see ya,
Tom Krebs
San Bruno , CA
Opportunity To Dive Cocos Island With The Sea Turtle Restoration Project
On behalf of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project (STRP), a nonprofit marine wildlife advocacy group based in Marin, California. I am announcing an opportunity to participate in an amazing SCUBA dive expedition organized by STRP researchers for March 13-23, 2011. The destination: the renowned Cocos National Park, Costa Rica, a World Heritage Site and SCUBA divers’ haven.
All certified experienced divers are invited to participate in this 10-day expedition, which includes over 26 dive opportunities and the chance to assist researchers with tagging sea turtles and hammerhead sharks to better understand their migration patterns, in order to promote conservation efforts.
If you are not intrigued already, please visit www.seaturtles.org/cocos for a description of the staggering amount of wildlife in the waters of Cocos Island and for information about the trip including costs.
I would also like to announce the opportunity to win a trip for two on this fantastic trip through a Benefit STRP Cocos Island Trip Raffle! Each raffle ticket costs $145; the winner will receive two spots on the MV Argo, a luxury 130-foot dive vessel that accommodates 16, plus $2000 in cash to assist with travel expenses. See below for a link with a sample itinerary and a list of included and excluded costs. All proceeds from the expedition and raffle will support research and conservation efforts, so even if you don’t win you will be making a valuable contribution towards protecting sea turtles and other marine species.
I would greatly appreciate if you would include an announcement for this raffle opportunity in your dive club’s newsletter, e-mails or monthly meetings. I have made up a flyer for posting on notice boards, etc, and if can email that out. For more information and ticket buying information, follow the links below. You can also contact us at (415) 663-8590 for more information or email info@seaturtles.org.
Please reply if you are interested if helping us out.
Thank you in advance for your help - we hope to see you in the Cocos!
Todd Steiner
Executive Director and Expedition Leader
More trip info - www.seaturtles.org/cocos, www.seaturtles.org/expeditions
Sample itinerary and included and excluded costs – www.seaturtles.org/itinerary
Purchase tickets at www.seaturtles.org/raffle
October 1, 2010
The California Ships To Reefs October 2010 newsletter is available for download from:
http://www.californiashipstoreefs.org/Resources/Documents/V4-N10-CSTR-Newsletter.pdf
AB 634 Signed Into Law
A two-year effort by California Ships to Reefs (CSTR) to lay the ground work for artificial reefing projects in California was hailed as successful when Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 634 into law July 15.
The bill, sponsored by Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, protects state and local governments from liability associated with scuba diving, particularly on ship-based artificial reefs. Without this protection, government agencies would be reluctant to allow reefing in their jurisdictions.
“California Ships to Reefs is proud of its all volunteer organization, the Legislature and Governor for passing AB 634. The Governor’s signature comes at an historic time, the tenth anniversary of HMCS Yukon’s reefing in San Diego,” said Joel Geldin, Chairman and CEO of California Ships to Reefs. “Today, California has removed a major impediment to artificial reefing. We are enthusiastic about the new unlimited opportunities ahead to create a network of artificial reefs on the state’s coastline, improving ocean life and enhancing our recreational diving and fishing industries,” Geldin added.
The well organized lobbying campaign by CSTR helped propel the bill through the Legislature with remarkable bipartisan support. Dean Rewerts, Vice President of Reef Development of CSTR said, “We appreciate how the Legislature was able to reach across the aisle and pass AB 634 without a single no vote, working for the common good of California. California Ships to Reefs believes the entire state owes thanks to Assemblywoman Diane Harkey for her foresight in carrying AB 634, making it easier to create man-made reefing projects in California to the benefit of the state and the environment.”
Assemblywoman Harkey commented, “Fear of lawsuits has hampered efforts to expand recreational activities in many communities. I am pleased that Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law our legislation reducing liability for local and state governments while allowing for more recreational activities such as scuba diving, aiding coastal economies, the environment and the state of California."
California Ships to Reefs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation whose mission is to create artificial reefs by sinking decommissioned military or retired commercial vessels near harbors, where they quickly become breeding grounds for new ocean life. The rejuvenated ocean environments attract divers, fishermen and other recreational opportunities, pumping additional income into local businesses.
Governor Signs Rigs to Reefs Bill
The “Rigs to Reefs” assembly bill AB 2503 was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. California Ships to Reefs congratulates Speaker John A. Perez and the bill’s sponsors for pushing this important bill through the legislature. This new law preserves oil and gas rigs for artificial reefing and pours new money into the state’s coffers. California Ships to Reefs supported this important legislation and thanks all our volunteers and supporters for sending their letters of support to the Governor.
Soviet Era Submarine May Become Underwater Exhibit
The Soviet era submarine currently on exhibit at the Maritime Museum of San Diego may gracefully end its years by becoming a man made ocean reef, according to an agreement between the museum, the submarine’s owners and California Ships to Reefs (CSTR).
The three parties agreed in principle Wednesday that when the B-39 Foxtrot Soviet era submarine ends its stay at the museum, CSTR will oversee the process to sink the submarine and use it to create a rich new ocean environment.
“We anticipate sinking the sub in San Diego’s wreck alley, where the HMCS Yukon is already a popular attraction and beautiful artificial reef,” said Joel Geldin, CSTR’s Chairman and CEO. “We are proud to announce this new agreement on the tenth anniversary of the sinking of Yukon, which has proven the economic and environmental value of man made reefs.” Wreck alley is a popular diving area off Mission Beach where the Yukon and other wrecked ships are visited by thousands of people every year.
“The Maritime Museum appreciates the opportunity to show the San Diego community that the submarine’s history does not end at the ocean’s surface,” said Dr. Ray Ashley, director of the Maritime Museum of San Diego (MMSD). “We’re looking forward to working on this project with California Ships to Reefs.”
The B-39 Soviet submarine has been part of the museum’s fleet since 2004, but the museum is making plans now for its future as its first undersea exhibit. Enter CSTR, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to seek surplus ships and sink them, creating new artificial reefs for diving, fishing and other recreational uses.
“We will use the expertise and knowledge we acquired from San Diego’s Project Yukon to make the submarine sinking a safe and environmentally sound project,” said Geldin.
California Ships to Reefs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation seeking to reef surplus ships as artificial reefs, bringing diving and fishing tourism to local ports in California and enhancing the ocean environment. For more information please visit the website http://californiashipstoreefs.org.
The Maritime Museum of San Diego is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation whose purpose is to preserve the traditional knowledge, skills and folk culture of the enterprise of the sea; to provide a safe repository for material culture; and to illustrate how the maritime enterprise has touched and continues to influence our daily lives through innovative and engaging educational programs, exhibits, publications and cultural events. For more information please visit their website at www.sdmaritime.org.
Lover’s Point, Pacific Grove
There’s been a proposal to add to and enhance the restroom facilities at Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove (Monterey Bay) to include reservable pay-for-use locker and changing rooms for dive clubs. The plans were suggested to include such items as secure lockers, showers and changing rooms, and possibly coffee and tea. Questions were directed to the club by the Project Manager asking for input on amenities. The response from Kevin (me) was that it would be great to have those kind of facilities there. That they should be available to all divers, not just clubs or dive shop groups, as that would be more cost effective (individual dive teams go there all week long where as clubs and shops generally only go on weekends.) Having a hot beverage dispenser that had coffee, tea and maybe hot soup would definitely be a plus for after diving. I also suggested tables or platforms where gear could be set up and put on without having to lift it off the ground.
Shark Encounter Reporting
The Shark Research Committee is a 501 (c) 3, tax-exempt, non-profit, scientific research organization founded in 1963. Our primary objectives, since inception, have been Shark Conservation & Education in addition to our Biological and Shark/Human Interaction Research programs. It has been our goal to present the shark's crucial role in the marine ecosystem, and its interactions with humans, in a more realistic and scientific setting.
Sharks and Shark/Human Interactions are notoriously difficult to study. The Shark Research Committee has long relied on the kindness and generosity of a great many marine enthusiasts that have contributed shark specimens, information, photos, video, and other material detailing their personal experiences with sharks. These have provided valuable insights into shark behavior and migratory preferences for many of the indigenous species common to the Pacific Coast. As a Public Service these reports are posted on our Pacific Coast Shark News page. Reporting Forms for these incidents can be found on our research web site. I have attached a link for your edification.
http://www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/index.html
The goal of our Shark Conservation & Education programs are to enlighten the public to the shark’s vital role in the Ocean’s Ecosystems. If sharks continue to be removed from the marine environment at their present rate, populations of crustacean, fish, and marine mammals could increase dramatically setting off a ‘cascading' effect where the entire ecosystem could collapse.
I would like to ask that your club contemplates participating in one or more of our research projects so that our future generations will have an Ocean to explore and sharks to captivate them. Although shark encounters are rare, should a club member have a shark experience, they can share this information through our web site’s Reporting Forms page. The health and future of the World's Oceans, and their sharks, is uncertain at the moment. I would appreciate your club’s consideration to support the Shark Research Committee's – Conservation, Education, and Research programs thru a cooperative reporting program. Please help – “Save the Sharks – Save the Oceans.” ™
Sincerely yours,
Ralph S. Collier Shark Research Committee
Monthly Diving
Anchor Shack Pacheco, CA - Call for the latest activities.
Dive N Trips Pleasanton, CA - Call or check their website for this month’s activities.
Its All About Scuba Fairfield, CA - Call or check their website for this month’s activities.
Dolphin Scuba Center Sacramento, CA - Check out their website for their (almost monthly) International trips. 
California Diving News Launches CADivingNews.com 2.0
After being a staple magazine in California dive stores for 25 years, CDN creates a strong online presence with its newly revamped website.
California Diving News is proud to announce a newly redesigned CADivingNews.com. The newest version will include a searchable database featuring articles dating back to the inception of the magazine 25 years ago. The new site will also include a searchable database of stores and boats throughout California and surrounding states. The dive boat trip calendar, an immensely popular feature on its previous sites and in the magazine itself, has also become much more user friendly. The site was designed to let any diver, California native or potential California visitor, research dive sites, locate a store or look up a boat trip, all in one place.
When designing the site, CDN wanted to put the most amount of information possible at the diver’s fingertips. “There have been so many good articles published in CDN over the years, we wanted a way to let everybody out there access it,” said marketing director Christopher D. Sheckler. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to learn about the hundreds of dive sites that are along the shores of California. We really believe this is the premier website for California divers. Finally, one website has just about anything you wanted to know about California scuba diving.”
The site also includes past articles about diving techniques, photography, marine life and gear reviews, written by regular contributors such as Bruce Watkins, Nancy Vander Velde, Bonnie Cardone, Ken Kurtis and Dale and Kim Sheckler.
Visit the new California Diving News website at www.cadivingnews.com or for more information e-mail: mail@cadivingnews.com.
