California Diving News

Diving pioneer Bob Meistrell is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individual guilty of killing a giant black sea bass in California.

Bob Meistrell, founder of Body Glove and member of the Diving Hall of Fame and recipient of the California Scuba Service Award, has initiated the reward program after being made aware of the brutal and illegal treatment of the giant sea bass population near Catalina Island.

Giant Sea Bass (Stereolepis gigas) are protected by the State of California [Department of Fish & Game]. Many giant sea bass inhabiting the waters of Catalina bear visible and horrible scars from spears gun injuries. Giant sea bass can live to be 100 years old and can grow to 7 feet, 550 pounds. They spawn between June and September but the females do not even begin to mature until age 7 or 8.

Both Bob, and the Body Glove family are sickened by the idea that a fellow waterman would treat one of the ocean’s creatures with so little respect in exchange for the bragging rights of a killing or maiming a fish that is one ranking below “endangered” status.

The Dive N’ Surf retail stores, along with corporate counterpart Body Glove International are making it a top priority to discover who is behind the murder and mutilation of the giant sea bass off of our Southern California coastline.

Any information or questions should be directed to Bob Meistrell at Body Glove International located at 201 Herondo Street, Redondo Beach, California 90277; 310-374-3441 ext. 207.

Commercial fishermen, sport anglers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone with an interest in California’s marine resources can now visit a Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Web site for information on developing a network of marine protected areas (MPAs).

DFG’s Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Web site can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/index.html, and includes information on ways the public can get involved in developing a comprehensive plan for MPAs within state waters. For maps of the proposed protected areas, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/concepts_maps.html on the web.

MLPA requires DFG to facilitate the development of a more effective network of MPAs with the assistance of a scientific planning team. Prior to enactment of MLPA in 1999, a variety of state MPAs evolved on a case-by-case basis through legislation, regulatory action and public referendum, including marine life refuges, marine reserves, state parks, and other areas.

The new DFG Web site contains background information on MLPA, minutes of MLPA Planning Team meetings, and information on a series of regional workshops. The regional workshops are designed to exchange information on initial draft concepts for a network of MPAs.

DFG staff and members of the scientific planning team will be available at the workshops to answer questions about the initial draft concepts and the new classification system being used to name marine managed areas, as required by the Marine Managed Areas Improvement Act. There are six new classifications that will be used for naming all marine managed areas.

• State Marine Reserve - All extractive activities are prohibited, including commercial and recreational fishing. Education activities and other forms of non-consumptive human uses may be permitted consistent with the protection of all marine resources. Scientific collection of any living, geological or cultural marine resource is by permit only.

• State Marine Park - All commercial exploitation is prohibited, including commercial fishing. Restrictions may be imposed on recreational activities to protect resource values, and scientific collection is by permit only.

• State Marine Conservation Area - Limits commercial and/or recreational uses that would compromise protection of species of interest, natural communities, habitat or geological features being protected. Research, education and recreational activities may be permitted.

• State Marine Cultural Preservation Area - Prohibits extraction, damage or possession of any cultural marine resource, and structures or improvements that conflict with complete integrity of the cultural resources as prohibited.

• State Marine Recreational Management Area - Provides, enhances or restricts certain recreational opportunities while preserving basic resource values of the area.

• State Water Quality Protection Area - Prohibits or limits by special conditions point source waste and thermal discharges. Nonpoint source pollution is controlled to the extent practicable.

Museum of Skindiving History

The Museum of Skindiving History opened to the public on July 14, 2001 in Huntington Beach California. Housed in a wing of the International Surfing Museum, the museum’s exhibits feature vintage skindiving equipment, early film and still photographs and video of the sport’s pioneers.

The museum is the brainchild of Ron Mullins of San Clemente and Vance Carriere of Long Beach. Both avid students of the sport’s history, they realized they weren’t alone last year. According to Carriere, a few local divers threw what was to be a small party honoring the sport’s pioneers. “We had more than 700 people show up, from as far away as South Africa, Australia, Europe and the Middle East,” he says. “With that level of interest, the next step was to create a permanent exhibit.”

Aside from vintage equipment from the 20’s and 30’s, the museum exhibits early still photos and film as well as video interviews of many early divers. “This sport has a very rich oral tradition, and we wanted to record first hand accounts of people who dove without even the most basic equipment that we take for granted, like masks and fins,” says Mullins.

Carriere added the Museum will be an ongoing endeavor, growing and evolving. “We’re still video taping interviews of early pioneers, and since the museum’s opening, several people have contacted us with rare and unusual artifacts and film footage.”

The museum and its parent, The Society for the Preservation of Skindiving History, are nonprofit organizations run exclusively by volunteers. Anyone who would like to participate is asked to call 877-SWIMFIN or see the museum’s website at www.skindivinghistory.com.

Scientists Spawn Endangered White Abalone

Just as the white abalone has been officially designated as an “endangered species,” scientists have managed to coax three captive white abs to spawn a total of 6 million eggs. The feat was accomplished with the help of scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Center in Santa Barbara, CA. The plan is to release approximately 10,000 of the juvenile spawn in a about 3 years. Currently it is estimated that less than 2,600 remain in the wild.

A very good description of the state of inshore fish may be found at www.californiafish.org.

Catalina Express, which provides the fastest and most comfortable scheduled service to Catalina Island, has expanded its summer schedule offering both morning and afternoon boat service from San Pedro to Two Harbors. Located at the island’s isthmus, Two Harbors is a boating village and recreational gateway to Catalina’s west end.

Visitors will be able to hop on an early morning boat to Two Harbors and explore the unspoiled beauty of Catalina’s west end before returning to San Pedro later that afternoon. With more than 86,000 acres of undeveloped land and 52 miles of pristine shoreline, the relatively undiscovered west end of Catalina brings out the true spirit of adventure to lovers of the outdoors.

Day visitors have a wide variety of outdoor activities to choose from including hiking, bicycling, kayaking, diving, snorkeling, fishing and camping. One of the most thrilling activities is the recently introduced High Adventure Tour, which takes passengers via a custom-built Hummer over the Silver Peak Trail into remote hills and valleys and back through verdant canyons along the scenic Emerald Bay coastline. The naturalist-guided tours can be booked as two-or four-hour programs including refreshments.

Cycling enthusiasts can rent mountain bikes and enjoy a number of picturesque routes that are suitable for both novice and experienced riders. Hikers will find an abundance of open space and hills to challenge the heartiest fitness buffs or gentle trails for the less energetic.

Two Harbors’ crystal clear waters, secluded coves, caves and reefs teeming with sea and bird life are ideal for exploration via kayak. Single or two-man ocean kayaks are available. Introductory lessons can be arranged along with guided kayak tours. In addition, small outboard powered skiffs can be rented for fishing, snorkeling excursions or sightseeing. The 45-foot catamaran Garibaldi can accommodate snorkelers and experienced or first-time scuba divers.

Additionally, day visitors to Two Harbors can choose from several bus trips into the interior of the island with side visits to remote Little Harbor, which offers great boogie boarding, surfing and a wide sandy beach for relaxing. Paddleboards, beach chairs and beach toys can be rented in Two Harbors.

For more information on activities at Two harbors, call (800) 626-7496 or access their Web site at www.scico.com.

Roundtrip fares between San Pedro and Two Harbors are $41.00 for adults, $31.50 for children (2-11 years) and $37.50 for seniors (55 and older). Bicycles, surfboards and three-wheel collapsible strollers can be accommodated for $6 additional. Fares include $2 temporary fuel surcharge and $2.00 wharfage fee. For schedules and more information, call (800) 429-4601 or visit their Web site at www.CatalinaExpress.com.