Effect of seastar wasting disease on Pisaster sp. Photo by D. Kutz

An onslaught of ecological impacts including sea star wasting disease and warmer waters has stressed Northern California kelp forests to the point that many invertebrates are starving, with kelpfish populations also being impacted. Significantly economic impacts to local fisheries are also being felt.

The California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is prioritizing research of the impacts of these events in order to alert the general public, policy makers, and other local stakeholders of the seriousness consequences of these ecological events. To this end, they are seeking volunteers to help with data collection and research. You can learn more and apply online here.  Note that not all volunteer positions will be in research diving (boo hoo).

CDFW’s blog post on the situation can be read here.

For 7 years—a long time ago—I volunteered for CA Fish and Game. This guy is lucky to do this as a paying job!—Dida

Working Underwater for Fish and Game, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Re-posted as a courtesy only. Please do not contact me for further details—Dida

We in Southern California were inundated by Pacific Seahorses during this warm-water cycle, and at least one made its way north of Point Conception.I am compiling sightings of Pacific seahorses north of Point Conception for a scientific publication. If anyone has seen or photographed Pacific seahorses north of Point Conception, I would sure appreciate you contributing the sighting to our paper by emailing the info to me at mikecouffer@gmail.com.

What we are looking for is the following information: Observer’s Name and Email, Sighting Date, Number of Seahorses, Location (please be as specific as possible), Water Depth, Time of Sighting, Seahorse Length (as close as you can estimate), Bottom Type (sand, mud, muddy sand, gravel, rocks), Clinging to plant or Object, or Out in the Open? Photos or Video taken? Thanks for your time!