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Has Anyone Dived This Wreck?
Last November 4 the NOAA research vessel Ballena was capsized by a rogue wave. All the crew made it to shore, but the boat sank south of Point Arguello (Santa Barbara County) in about 30 feet of water 1/4 mile from shore. Has anyone found and dived this wreck yet?
The Ballena is the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary’s Research Vessel (R/V). The Sanctuary uses the Ballena for the various research/studies it conducts in the waters surrounding the Channel Islands. Projects supported include oceanographic studies, rockfish studies, intertidal research, seabird surveys, and whale habitat & prey studies. It was taking side-scan sonar readings of the sea floor at the time.
The Ballena had a fiberglass hull, 56 feet in length, 17 feet in breadth.
Channel Islands Populations Report
The Channel Islands National Park reports a large increase in populations of sea urchins and wavy turban snails. The same report documents a recovery in sea star populations at their monitoring sites. The trends are similar to the recovery after the 1982/83 El Niño. The growth of these populations may be related to the recovery of the kelp forests after the 1997/98 El Niño. More kelp—more food—more animals.
Other animals seeming to enjoy the healthy kelp include sea cucumbers. Ship Rock of Catalina Island seems to be overwhelmed with them!
Marine Life Protection Act Needs Your Input
The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA: Assembly Bill 993 authored by Assemblyman Shelly) became effective January 1, 2000. The purpose of the act is to improve the array of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in California waters through a comprehensive Master Plan that the Department of Fish and Game is required to develop. This Master Plan will recommend alternative MPA networks within state waters (from shore out to three miles) to the Fish and Game Commission.
The Act contains language for new designations:
State Marine Reserve—Injuring, damaging, taking or possessing and living, geological or cultural marine resource (“take”) is prohibited. Some scientific collecting by permit may be allowed.
State Marine Park—Commercial take is prohibited. Recreational take and scientific collecting by permit will be allowed, although some forms of recreational take may be restricted.
State Marine Conservation Area—Certain commercial and recreational take and scientific collecting by permit may be allowed.
More information may be found at: Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) web site: www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/index.html. See the website for information on how you can add your input on where these protected areas should be.
Giant Pacific Octopus Spotted in Monterey
Divers reported seeing a giant Pacific Octopus at 75 feet off North Monastery Beach. The giant was reported to have a 6-8 foot arm span and has been seen on several occasions.
Monterey Cleanup Dive a Success
The recent Monterey Cleanup pulled thousands of pounds of trash from Monterey Harbor and everyone went home with a prize. The top prizes were given for the following finds:
#1. A fuel tank recovered by Peter Fong. The fuel tank was considered the most polluting item and was awarded first prize.
#2. Tied for second place: Several public works barricades. Evidently, when these signs are put up blocking parking places on the wharf, some people just picked them up and threw them into the ocean.
#2. Tied for second place: A front car fender. The same diver recovered a car bumper. We are still looking for the rest of the car.
#3. A prize was given to the diver who found the oldest item: An old bottle with the following lettering “Federal law forbids the sale or reuse of this bottle.”
A complete list of the trash and prizes may be found at www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/Visitor/dive/diveevents.html.
Abalone Poachers Convicted
On May 22, a Monterey County jury convicted two brothers of poaching abalone. The judge sentenced each defendant to pay a fine of $3,600 and spend time in jail. In December 2000, State Fish and Game Wardens observed one of the brothers carrying a bag containing 15 black abalone on the Monterey coast between Rocky Point and Garrapata Creek. The suspect threw the bag over the cliff. When it was later recovered, it was found to contain the 15 abalone.