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News Releases
December 27, 2001:
Project Pacific Releases White Seabass, Helping Hatchery Reach
Goal of 100,000 fish.
November 16, 2001:
Project Pacific Calls for ACTION to Stop the "Killer
Algae", Caulerpa taxifolia.
October 30, 2001: Project Pacific to Receive
1000 White Seabass Fingerlings into its Grow-Out Facility on Mission Bay
September 18, 2001: Project Pacific
Urges Proper Disposal of Harmful Aquarium Plant and Other Non-Native Species
September 10, 2001: "Wetland
Avengers" Kicks Off Annual Week-Long Program with the Largest Turnout in the 10-year
History of Hands On San Diego
July 23, 2001: San Diego Bans the
"Killer Algae"
July 19, 2001: Volunteer Grunion Monitors
Needed
July 2, 2001: White Seabass "Meet
and Greet"
May 24, 2001: San Diego - La Jolla Ecological
Reserve
May 14, 2001: Grunion & Beach Raking
May 9, 2001: Members elected to Project
Pacific's Board
April 11, 2001: White Seabass Pen Permit
Approved
April 9, 2001: First Annual Aquatic
Conference
April 2, 2001: San Diego May Ban
"Evil" Algae
March 7, 2001: "Evil Algae Hunt"
December 27, 2001: Project
Pacific Releases White Seabass, Helping Hatchery Reach Goal of 100,000 Fish
On December 17 Project
Pacific released its latest batch of White Seabass, helping the Hubbs-SeaWorld
Research Institute reach its goal of releasing 100,000 fish in 2001. Project
Pacific operates one of 13 grow-out facilities throughout southern California
that raise White Seabass provided by the Carlsbad hatchery.
On
Friday, December 28th, researchers at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute
(HSWRI) achieved a significant milestone in their marine
fisheries enhancement reaseach. The last groups of white seabass to be released in
2001 were stocked into Agua Hedionda Lagoon, bringing the total number of of seabass
released in southern California to over 100,000 this year. This success comes at a time when southern
California fisheries are in a state of turmoil due to the depleted status of many fish
stocks. While resource managers are resorting
to area and seasonal closures and other plans to restrict fishing opportunities, this
program is evaluating the feasibility of using a more proactive approach – stocking
fish directly into the ocean.
Since 1986, research scientists at HSWRI
have cultured, tagged and released more than 500,000 white seabass in
southern California coastal waters as part of the Ocean Resources Enhancement and
Hatchery Program (OREHP). This
research program is administered by the California Department of Fish and Game and
is well supported by the community, especially recreational fishers. In fact, most of the fish that get released spend
the last 4-5 months of their growout cycle in the cages that are owned and operated by
fishing club members organized by the United Anglers of Southern California. This past year volunteers have contributed more
than 20,000 hours toward raising these fish at the 12 grow out facilities
along the southern California coast.
If
successful, this
program will yield not only significant ecological impacts, but economic ones as well.
Saltwater sportfishing is a $25 billion industry in the U.S. and
is estimated to add $250 - $450 million annually to the San Diego economy alone.
If
you would like to volunteer for this project, contact Project Pacific's
White Seabass project coordinator Alan Pitcarin at pitcairn@cts.com.
More
November 16, 2001: Project Pacific Calls for ACTION to
Stop the "Killer Alage", Caulerpa taxifolia.
Last year Project
Pacific and Council member Scott Peters brought the issue of the
"killer algae" (Caulerpa taxifolia) to the City of San
Diego, resulting in an Ordinance banning the sale, trade, and possession
of the harmful aquarium plant in July, 2001. Since then, the State of CA has passed
similar legislation. The new legislation will help prevent further infestations, but
the current problem in Agua Hedionda Lagoon (Carlsbad) still exists.
(As you may recall, Agua Hedionda was the first area in the U.S.
to be infested with the "killer algae"). Scientists anticipated they would
need to treat re-growth as part of the eradication efforts, which unfortunately has proved
to be more difficult than expected. Recreational activity (small boats, jet skis) in
the lagoon is hindering and prolonging the eradication process. As long as Caulerpa
taxifolia exists in the lagoon, the threat of it spreading to new areas exists!
Also, resources are needed elsewhere to detect other possible
infestations. Because resources for the eradication efforts are extremely limited,
plans to survey other areas will have to wait until the Agua Hedionda
infestation is under better control.
Scientists
and agencies involved in the eradication efforts have suggested that the City of
Carlsbad refrain from issuing recreational use permits for Agua Hedionda
Lagoon, which is something the City is hesitant to do. While we recognize
the short-term negative impacts for recreational boaters of the lagoon, it is crucial that
we support this for the long-term protection of our coastal environment.
Please TAKE ACTION!
A sample letter is posted on www.projectpacific.org for you
to copy and paste into an email (or snail mail letter) and send to Carlsbad City
Council urging them to TAKE ACTION to protect our precious
coastline. The addresses are also listed on the website. You may edit the
letter or use your own if you prefer. Your help with this important issue would be
greatly appreciated!
More
October
30, 2001: Project Pacific to Receive 1000 White Seabass Fingerlings into its
Grow-Out Facility on Mission Bay
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research
Institute will deliver 1000 White Seabass fingerlings into Project Pacific's
"grow-out" facility on Mission Bay on Tuesday, October 30th at 11:00 AM.
The net pen is located at the Dana Landing Marina, 2590 Ingraham Street, San Diego, 92109.
Project Pacific is a San Diego-based non-profit organization dedicated to "Actions
Benefiting the Ocean". The White Seabass project and the "grow-out"
facility will help restore the severely depleted White Seabass stocks. Volunteers
are also needed to help feed and care for the fish.
The Dana Landing Marina on Mission Bay has donated space to Project Pacific to operate a
grow-out facility located along side the dock. Project Pacific will re-introduce up
to 5,000 White Seabass into Mission Bay every five to six months as part of a fisheries
enhancement project in southern California.
White Seabass are highly prized sport and commercial fish that grow to over 80 pounds.
They are shallow water or in-shore fish and typically are caught around kelp beds, rocks
and piers. The White Seabass population along the southern California coast is
currently at very low levels due to over-fishing and habitat destruction. However,
since 1984 there has been an experimental program involving hatchery produced fish
intended to help restore the White Seabass stock. The program (Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery
Project) is administered by the California Department of Fish and Game and
funded by fishermen through a special annual "stamp." Over 200 broodstock
fish are maintained at the Leonard Raymond Hubbard, Jr. Marine Fish
Hatchery in Carlsbad (San Diego County) on land provided by the San Diego Gas and
Electric Company. The hatchery, run by Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute,
produces 3" fingerlings and then delivers the small fish to 13 sites from Santa
Barbara to San Diego for further growth prior to release.
The "grow-out" facilities (coordinated by the United Anglers, Southern
California) raise the White Seabass for 5 to 6 months; they are then released
at a size of 10" to 12". Each fish receives a "coded wire" tag in its
head so that it can be fully identified upon being caught. However, the tag is so small
that it requires a special instrument for its detection.
More
September
18, 2001: Project Pacific Urges Proper Disposal of Harmful Aquarium Plant and
Other Non-Native Species
Project
Pacific – a non-profit organization based in San Diego and dedicated to "Actions
Benefiting the Ocean" – urges people to properly dispose of Caulerpa
taxifolia (otherwise known as “killer algae”)
and other non-native plants and fish. The San Diego Regional Water
Quality Control Board recommends the following methods to clean and dispose of
home saltwater aquariums:
- When you need to flush out your tank, pour the
water down your toilet, sink, or tub so it'll go to a sewage treatment system. DO
NOT dump your tank down a storm drain. (Not only could you be introducing non-native
and potentially invasive species into the ocean, but it is illegal to do so). If you
are worried about the salt water corroding your pipes, dilute with freshwater as you pour
it out.
- If you do not want your aquarium anymore, return
the plants and animals to the store where you bought them. Then, dump the water down
your toilet, sink, or tub as described above.
- If you have Caulerpa taxifolia currently in your
aquarium, get rid of it! Possession of this seaweed is now illegal in the City of
San Diego and may be illegal in the State of CA if AB 1334 is passed as well. Proper
disposal is to either bake, freeze, or microwave the "killer algae". Then,
seal it in a plastic bag and throw it in trash that goes to a landfill.
Caulerpa
taxifolia is a saltwater algae native to the Caribbean. Often it is
used as decoration in home aquariums, but when released into the ocean or a lagoon the
effects are devastating. The same seaweed has blanketed 30,000 acres of the
Mediterranean floor. When introduced to a non-native area, it displaces
native algae and has an extremely negative impact on the coastal
ecosystem--invertebrates, fish, marine mammals, and sea birds are adversely affected.
It has been referred to as "laying astro-turf on the ocean
floor".
In June 2000, the
algae invaded Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad, Calif., and cost almost a million dollars
to eradicate. It is believed that the algae reached the lagoon after someone dumped
their home aquarium into the ocean. Although its importation into the United States
has been banned for several years, until now it was still legal to sell, trade, and
possess the algae within each state. San Diego was the first area of the U.S.
infested with the destructive seaweed (it has since invaded Huntington Beach, Calif. as
well). A California State Assembly bill (AB 1334) is currently
pending that would ban sale, trade, and possession of the seaweed statewide.
Project
Pacific brought the issue to Council member Scott Peters who
subsequently led the charge resulting in the City of San Diego unanimously
voting to approve an ordinance that bans the sale, trade, and possession of Caulerpa
taxifolia, the so-called "killer algae" in
August, 2001.
While eradication efforts in Agua Hedionda
Lagoon in Carlsbad have been successful, as long as it is legal to sell, trade and posses
this aquarium plant, the threat of a new infestation exists. The San Diego City ban
will heighten awareness and may prevent unintentional introduction of the invasive algae
into a new area.
Volunteer divers are now being sought to help
search for Caulerpa taxifolia – which is a bottom-growing,
bright green plant with fern-like fronds.
More
September
10, 2001: "Wetland Avengers" Kicks Off Annual Week-Long Program with the
Largest Turnout in the 10-year History of Hands On San Diego
Over
500 volunteers participated in "Wetland Avengers" on Saturday,
September 8 to kick off the annual Hands On San Diego. "Wetland
Avengers" proved to be a fun and exciting community event providing hands-on
education along with vital wetland restoration and clean-up. Over
500 participants from throughout San Diego gained AWARENESS and
then took ACTION to restore and a salt marsh area in Ocean
Beach, just east of Dog Beach.
“Wetland
Avengers” was a collaborative
effort by Aquatic Adventures Science Education Foundation (AASEF) and
Project Pacific, in partnership with the Volunteer Center of San
Diego, and sponsored by SDG&E and Home Depot.
Other supporters included San Diego Park and Recreation, Ocean Beach Community
Development Corporation, Dog Beach Dog Wash, Earth Works, I Love a Clean San Diego, San
Diego Backed, Ocean Beach Town Council, Ducks Unlimited, and San Diego Bright Families.
Council member Byron
Wear and Council member Scott Peters both attended the event and
demonstrated their support for the efforts of Adventures Science Education
Foundation (AASEF) and Project Pacific.
Over 500
volunteers (the "Avengers") from throughout San Diego
County were on a "mission possible" to save the wetland
habitat. After registering, participants moved on to a dress-up table where
accessorized with camouflage clothing and cammy paint for their faces. Youths created their own "wetland
wanted" posters at activity booths and won raffle tickets in bird bingo. The
day’s events included mural painting, a live D.J., and booths offering fun and
educational ways for everyone to help create a better San Diego. Each
participant received a T-shirt, water bottle, lunch and beverages.
Local biologists (the
"Sergeants") lead every "Avenger" on educational and interactive tours
of this sensitive and threatened habitat. "Avengers" then took their new
awareness and transferred it into immediate ACTION! Each
"Avenger" worked with a "Squad Leader" to remove non-native invasive
species, trash and unnecessary paths.
“Because of the
sensitivity of the wetlands habitat, it is important for us to be as unobtrusive as
possible,” said Shara Fisler, executive director of Aquatic
Adventures Science Education Foundation (AASEF).
“That’s why we came up with the idea for the Avengers/Mission
Possible theme. It allows the volunteers a
fun way to help restore these important lands, while underscoring the delicateness of the
area.” Marine organisms use
the wetlands as a home (like the endangered Clapper Rail and the Least Tern), birds feed
off of their rich habitat, & humans enjoy them as a public resource. They provide a
sheltered habitat that is used as a breeding and nursery ground for many marine
organisms. Wetlands aid in "cleaning" the waterway by transforming
pollutants into nutrients for plants. They absorb large quantities of water & protect
surrounding areas from flooding & erosion. Non-native plants are a tremendous threat
to this habitat. They out-compete native plants and the wetland is negatively impacted,
resulting in habitat loss and an unhealthy ecosystem.
Aquatic Adventures
Science Education Foundation (AASEF)
provides the community with access and excitement to the sciences, stewardship of the
ocean, and increased exposure to San Diego's aquatic environments, and a bridge leading
young people to fulfill their potential. AASEF’s programs target
underrepresented youths who otherwise are not afforded such opportunities.
Project Pacific is a non-profit
organization based in San Diego and dedicated to "Actions Benefiting the
Ocean” – balancing enhancement,
use and preservation. Its focus is from the coastal waters of San Diego and outward. Project Pacific's primary interests are
fisheries restoration, habitat enhancement, water quality, education, and resource
management.
Sponsors such as Home
Depot and SDG&E not only provided financial support, but their employees
volunteered and participated at the event.
“Hands-On San
Diego” is an annual
week-long challenge to corporations, military and government groups to give back to the
community in which they live and work. This
year, in addition to the “Wetland Avengers” program, close to a
hundred local companies will have teams in the community landscaping, painting and
generally making our community a better place to be”.
More
July 23,
2001: San Diego Bans the "Killer Algae"
On Monday, July 23,
2001, the San Diego City Council unanimously voted to approve an
Ordinance that bans the sale, trade, and possession of Caulerpa taxifolia,
the so-called "killer algae". Project
Pacific brought the issue to Councilmember Scott Peters who
subsequently lead the charge resulting in the City Ordinance.
Project Pacific has been working with
other agencies and organizations to educate the public, search new areas, raise awareness,
and prevent further spread of this seaweed. The response and cooperation has been
tremendous—there is clear cohesion among ocean-related groups that Caulerpa
taxifolia needs to be taken seriously. Project Pacific
continues with outreach, supports surveys and searches, and promotes awareness and
education about this threatening seaweed.
Caulerpa taxifolia is a saltwater
aquarium plant native to the Carribean. It is used in home aquariums, but when
released into the ocean or a lagoon the effects are devastating. The same seaweed
has blanketed the Mediterranean floor. When introduced to a non-native area, it
displaces native algae and has an extremely negative impact on the coastal
ecosystem--invertebrates, fish, marine mammals, and sea birds are adversely affected.
It has been referred to as "laying astro-turf on the ocean floor".
Last June it invaded Agua Hedionda Lagoon in
Carlsbad, San Diego and cost almost a million dollars to eradicate.
Although its importation into the United States has banned for several years, until now it
was still legal to sell, trade, and possess the algae within each state. San
Diego was the first area of the U.S. infested with the destructive seaweed (it has since
invaded Huntington Beach as well), so it is appropriate the San Diego is the first to ban
it. A CA State Assembly bill (AB 1334) is currently
pending that would also ban the seaweed.
While eradication efforts in Agua Hedionda
Lagoon in Carlsbad have been successful, as long as it is legal to sell, trade
and posses this aquarium plant, the threat of a new infestation exists. This City ban
will heighten awareness and may prevent unintentional introduction of the invasive algae
into a new area.
More
July 19, 2001:
Volunteer Grunion Monitors Needed
Due to concern that the beach grooming
practices of Parks and Recreation are harming the grunion eggs, the City has asked Project
Pacific to gather a "panel" of experts and marine biologists to gather
information and review the policies and procedures. The panel is in the process
of reviewing the current beach raking methods, examining existing studies, and
considering the overall impact of beach grooming on the beach environment. Negative
impacts on grunion as well as the overall beach ecology are being examined.
As part of this process, Project
Pacific is monitoring the beaches during grunion runs for spawning activity.
We need volunteers to help! The
next runs will occur July 22-25, August 5-8 and August 20-23. Volunteers
will submit observation forms to the appropriate "Grunion Observation
Coordinator" for the area they monitor — Project
Pacific will then compile the information and submit it to the City.
Volunteers will be monitoring the beaches of La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and
Ocean Beach.
The review panel includes representatives from
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC/Santa Barbara, National Marine Fisheries Service,
San Diego State University, CA Department of Fish & Game, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife, and others.
More
July 2, 2001:
White Seabass "Meet and Greet"
Join us to celebrate the
arrival of 1000 White Seabass into Project Pacific's new "net pen". The
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute will deliver the fish into the new facility located at
the Dana Landing Marina on Mission Bay.
The new "grow-out" facility us part of a
re-stocking program to help restore the severley depleted White Seabass stocks.
Volunteers are needed to
help feed the new fish. Please contact Alan Pitcairn: (858) 454-7726; email: pitcairn@cts.com.
More
May 24, 2001:
San Diego - La Jolla Ecological Reserve
A public meeting to
discuss the first comprehensive study of the San Diego–La Jolla Ecological Reserve
will be held at 7:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 5, 2001, at the
Sumner Auditorium, Scripps Institute of Oceanography on
La Jolla Shores Drive.
Dr. Paul Dayton, Professor of
Oceanography, and others will describe the current knowledge of the 512-acre Ecological
Reserve. As one of the first and largest no fishing areas along the CA coast, it is
known to have an abundance of sealife. Dr. Dayton’s three-year Sea
Grant funded study will quantify key fish and shellfish species. The public is
invited to assist in the study. Divers, swimmers, boaters, and fishers may participate by
providing information about the various sealife they observe. There are many other
opportunities for the public to support Dr. Dayton, and these will be
described at the June 5 meeting.
For further information contact Project
Pacific’s Dick Glenn: (858) 587-1150; email: ljglenn@pacbell.net
or Alan Pitcairn: (858) 454-7726; email: pitcairn@cts.com.
More
May 14, 2001:
Grunion & Beach Raking
Due to concern expressed by San Diego residents that
routine beach raking is harming grunion eggs during spawning season, Councilmember
Scott Peters has asked the City Manager to work with Project Pacific
to review the policies and procedures of Parks and Recreation with regard
to beach grooming.
Project Pacific has organized a series of meetings between several
representatives from Park and Recreation, along with marine biologists
(from CA Dept. of Fish & Game, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, National
Marine Fisheries Service, SDSU, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service,
et al.) to discuss the issue and hopefully reach a solution satisfactory to
everyone. The first of two meetings will take place on May 16th.
The next meeting will occur in approximately one month.
More
May 9, 2001:
Members elected to Project Pacific's Board
Three new members were elected to Project
Pacific's board of directors at its first annual meeting on May 8, 2001.
Shara Fisler, Director
of Aquatic Adventures Science
Education Foundation, was elected as Project
Pacific's Vice President. Kim McCoy, owner of Ocean Sensors,
will join the board of directors and bring his many talents with him. Brock
Rosenthal, owner of Ocean
Innovations, also serves as Chair of the Marine Technolgoy Society,
San Diego.
In addition, Judith Garfield, author
of two books on the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater
Park Ecological Reserve, has
joined our Advisory Board. Also joining the Advisory Board is Harold O'Neal,
owner of Custom Marine Electronics.
More
April 11,
2001: White Seabass Pen Permit Approved
The California Coastal Comission appoved
a permit on April 10 allowing Project Pacific to build and operate a
"grow-out" facility on Mission Bay to raise White Seabass
fingerlings until they are ready for release.
The facility (a "net pen") will
join 12 others throughout southern California that participate in a program to restore the
White Seabass stocks. The program is a joint effort between the California
Department of Fish and Game and Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute.
Hubbs operates a hatchery in Carlsbad to produce the young fingerlings—each
fish is tagged prior to delivery to the net pens.
Project Pacific will begin
building the net pen once funding is secured for the project. Donations of materials
to build the facility are also needed, as well as volunteers to both build the pen as well
as feed and care for the young fish.
More
April 9,
2001: First Annual Aquatic Conference
First Annual Aquatic
Conference—hosted by the San Diego Association of Lifeguards
DATE: April 17, 2001 from
6-9 p.m.
LOCATION: The Catamaran
Hotel on Mission Bay
A wide range of aquatic groups will be
represented at the conference. The purpose of this event is to enlighten and bring
together the aquatic community on issues such as clean water, aquatic safety and coastal
infrastructure.
Presentations and guest speakers: The Surf
Rider Foundation, Project Pacific, The San Diego Association for Lifeguards,
The San Diego Council of Divers, Councilman Byron Wear, Ron Roberts (county
supervisor), Greg Cox (county supervisor) and Clif Williams
(representing Councilmember Scott Peters).
Project Pacific will be
giving a presentation about "Caulerpa taxifolia", the
so-called "evil algae" that has devastated the Mediterranean
and was found in a Carlsbad lagoon in June, 2000.
More
April 2,
2001: San Diego May Ban "Evil" Algae
Councilmember Scott Peters and
Project Pacific spoke out at the Natural Resources & Culture
Committee in favor of City legislation banning the sale and possession of Caulerpa
taxifolia, the so-called "evil" or "killer
algae." The committee unanimously voted to move forward with the
ordinance, which will be voted on by the full City Council sometime in
early May.
Caulerpa taxifolia
is a salwater algae found in the Caribbean that causes tremendous devestation when
introduced to a non-native area. The algae appeared in Agua Hedionda lagoon
in Carlsbad, CA last June of 2000. Although eradication efforts by Merkel
& Associates appear to be successful, as long as this plant is legal to sell,
trade, and possess it poses a serious threat to our marine ecosystem. Currently,
there is a bill pending in the CA State Assembly that would ban its sale
and possession. In the meantime, Councilmember Peters is moving
forward with a San Diego City ordinance to raise awareness and prevent
further devestation of our coastal habitats.
More
March 7,
2001: "Evil Algae Hunt"
"Evil Algae Hunt"
Project Pacific's "Evil Algae
Hunt" will take place on Saturday, March 10th, 2:30 to 4:00
p.m. near Hospital Point in La Jolla. The City of San Diego has passed a
resolution proclaiming March 10th as "Caulerpa taxifolia Awareness
Day" in San Diego in recognition of Project Pacific's "Evil
Algae Hunt". Furthermore, both the City and the State are working on a law
to ban the sale of Caulerpa.
Caulerpa taxifolia, the so-called
"killer" or "evil" algae, has the ability to form a dense smothering
blanket of growth on the ocean floor. Marine biologists will lead participants through
tidepools and teach about the animals that are threatened by this aquarium plant that has
devastated large parts of the Mediterranean and was recently been found in Carlsbad. Field
guides and taxonomic keys will be provided for species identification.
Attendees will include elementary/high school/college
students, boy scouts, mentorship group members, representatives from the CA
Regional Water Quality Control Board, the San Diego Council of Divers, San Diego
Lifeguards, Aquatic Adventures Science Education Foundation, The Marine
Technology Society, et al.
The event will take place south of Hospital Point in La Jolla. Look for the green hut just
south of the juncture of Coast Blvd and Coast Blvd South across from #333 Coast Blvd.
Several banners will be posted around the area.
More
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