7/21 purple urchin dive report.

[Eric Sedletzky]

We (PURP) did another purple urchin collection dive today at Stillwater Cove.
The wind came up. It was already a little choppy in the morning. As the day went on it got worse.
That didn’t stop us. I worked the right side in the bowl, which was a washing machine today, surge city, but I did fill three bags.
One dive for me with a 120.
The water is cold again with the winds up, 49 degrees. Cold Alaskan water comes up from the depths.
We had 6 divers today for a total of 751 lbs.
We did it! We got 10,000 since 9/17/23.
Here are some pics of the day:

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

What do you do with that?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Right now we compost them.
Later in the year when they have uni (roe) in them we have people that will take them.

 

[happy-diver]

Just think of the sound the crow makes, that's some amount of urchins

 

[Green Frog]

Sounds like another successful day in the PURP program. How did the kelp look this time? Are you seeing signs of recovery?

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Sounds like another successful day in the PURP program. How did the kelp look this time? Are you seeing signs of recovery?

We’re seeing a lot more stuff growing at the weedline off the beach. Lot’s of long ribbon kelp, some feather boa kelp, a whole variety of sea lettuces, some eel grass, but no bull kelp yet in close. However, there is a few bull kelps starting to grow out in the middle of the cove in 10’ - 15’ of water.
We need to continue patrolling around any kelp that starts to maintain the margin around them.
We’re planning to be out there every week now to get as many cleared as we can before they spawn in Nov - Jan.

 

[rmorgan]

It's a great thing you're doing, Eric.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

It's a great thing you're doing, Eric.

Thank you!

We need more divers, we always are looking for good help.