December 12, 2012
San Miquel Island Abalone
Back in 2006, some gov agencies, the Calif. Abalone Association and some NGO's cooperated in surveying red abalone at San Miquel Island in the Channel Islands of Southern California. It's the only place in SoCal where an abundance of them can be found out and about (rather then cryptic). Seeing so many in one location was quite a remarkable sight, and as one of the lucky few who participated, the memories of that trip are some of the fondest of my sci-diving career (esp. as I was diving with my late-BF, Chris). (It was also the first time I tried diving with a hookah.)
Yesterday, a proposal to reopen the abalone fishery allowing a take of 1% of the population was considered in La Jolla. It was ultimately rejected, but the meeting proved to be a productive sharing of ideas moving forward—the kind of outcome you always hope government agencies and stakeholders can accomplish.
Chris Knight, a friend and formerly of Reef Check, wrote an in-depth article about the proceedings you can read here.
Images copyright Jody Pesapane.
Posted by Dida at December 12, 2012 11:35 AM
