December 8, 2006
California Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Project
From a local list I'm on, an opportunity to help get rid of annoying and harmful fishing gear, especially monofilament, around local piers. Since the project is being run out of UC Davis, I'm assuming you have to be AAUS certified, but if you're interested, email Jennifer Renzullo to check.
The SeaDoc Society, a marine ecosystem health program of the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center, administers the California Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Project .
We have just received a grant to clean up derelict recreational fishing gear (e.g. accumulated monofilament) from around 16 public-access fishing piers in California. We are very excited about this project, as we believe it will make our coastal environment safer for wildlife and people, as well as improve the aesthetic value of underwater habitat.
I will be leading the removal effort and am looking for 1-3 strong and reliable volunteer divers who may be interested in helping out with field work. I need divers who have considerable underwater work experience, as there will be entanglement hazards as well as sharp barnacles, fish hooks, heavy surge, etc. to contend with. I can train, but competence underwater is important. Ideally, we identify volunteer divers who are able to participate in cleaning all or most of the 16 piers, as each diver will have to be trained. I hope to begin diving in March; however, I will probably be taking a trip before that just to survey 1-2 piers to get a better scope of the job and to help plan for future work (i.e., equipment needed, dive plan, etc). We hope to work on the piers in clusters, i.e. San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Monterey in the first trips,
etc. Trips can be planned over the weekend, but would still require time midweek i.e. Thursday-Monday. We can provide transportation, accommodations and per diem for the diver(s), but hours will have to be volunteer.
This is a really exciting opportunity to be involved directly with marine conservation. If you are interested in participating, please send me an email of inquiry. I greatly look forward to working with you!
Thanks for your help! Jen Renzullo
Jennifer Renzullo
Assistant Manager, Derelict Fishing Gear Program
UC Davis /SEADOC Society
Email
Posted by Dida at December 8, 2006 6:01 PM
