There Otter Be More
California sea otter populations have been on the decline since 1995, but last year’s fall census found a 7.2 percent increase over 2000. In 2001, the U.S. Geological Survey counted 2,012 California, or southern, sea otters off the California coast.

Before 1995, the populations were increasing at an average rate of 5 percent a year. If they had continued at that rate, there would be more than 3,000 today. Historically, there were between 15,000 and 20,000 otters off the coast. Otters are succumbing for many reasons, but recently to a protozoan encephalitis. While research is inconclusive, some suspect the organism, usually found in domestic cats, is contaminating the water through flushable cat litter.

Fit Rats Avoid the Bends
Physical exercise before a simulated dive protects rats from developing the nitrogen bubbles in their bloodstream that lead to the bends, Norwegian researchers have shown. The finding could help to reduce divers’ risk of decompression illness (DCI). There is evidence that exercise before diving “makes the inner surface of blood vessels more slippery.” Nitrogen bubbles are seeded like crystals on rough surfaces: the smoother the blood vessels, the harder it is for bubbles to form. The effect appears short lived and protective effect is lost after two days.

Where Do Sharks Go?
Most California divers know that white sharks can be found in coastal waters in the San Francisco area in fall and early winter. Until recently no one knew where they spent the rest of the year. Recent evidence from satellite tags says they head south to warm, deep water. Some sharks tagged in Central California headed west to Hawaii, others headed south to hundreds of miles off the Baja Coast. While in California white sharks spend most of their time in shallow water; however, they dive to over 1500 feet on their warm water visits.

San Clemente Island Reopens, Lobsters Likely Abundant
Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, the military controlled San Clemente Island in the southern group of the California Channel Islands was closed for security reasons. That ban has now been lifted and it is now possible to approach closely in most areas.

An odd side effect of the temporary closure is that San Clemente Island became a temporary preserve by default. Lobsters have gone undisturbed for several months by both sport divers and commercial lobster trappers, most of which pack up and go home by year’s end. Lobster hunting at San Clemente Island is likely to be good until the end of the season in March.