clean up question

[maderadiver]

I had a question on clean up dives in protected areas


There are several "take no living thing " sites all over california my question is how do you do a clean up dive in a area like that i have heard of tires and toilets ghost traps and such wnything you pull up could have life in it do you juet have to let the local warden know that you're doing a clean up dive qnd not a collecting dive?

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Not sure of the "rules" there but too many well meaning people "clean up" critters homes. When they come back for the safety of their bottle or tyre and it isn't there they may become lunch to the predator they are fleeing. My rule is... If it could be a creature's home, leave it... collect only sinkers, fishing line, plastic bags anything that could cause harm to a creature.

If it isn't doing harm is it really rubbish? Some over enthusiastic "cleanup divers" have unknowingly removed significant landmarks that have been used for navigation for years at some of our sites. Like everything else.. I guess the best advice is.. Think before you act

 

[maderadiver]

I had not though about that aren't car tires and petro based things bad for the water i can see the harmlessness of say a sink or a toliet but i wouldnt think car tires or plastics would be welcome

What about "ghost traps" traps that are no longer attached to there float i would think you shold at least open a door so they don't just sit there as a meaningless death sentence

 

[bowlofpetunias]

It would be interesting to have someone qualified give us information about the tyres.. I know some places make artificial reefs with them If the plastic is something that a critter might eat.. I take it.. if it is a plastic bottle a critter might live in. I leave it. That is just myway of looking at it. I have come out of the water with a lot of rubbish. Better still is to clean up the stuff on the shore, surface and rocks before it makes it in to the water.. and hopefullysome of the "offenders" will see us doing it and rethink things?

 

[maderadiver]

It would be interesting to have someone qualified give us information about the tyres.. I know some places make artificial reefs with them If the plastic is something that a critter might eat.. I take it.. if it is a plastic bottle a critter might live in. I leave it. That is just myway of looking at it. I have come out of the water with a lot of rubbish. Better still is to clean up the stuff on the shore, surface and rocks before it makes it in to the water.. and hopefullysome of the "offenders" will see us doing it and rethink things?

Getting it off the shore is a better option but i had never really thought about the fact that say a coke bottle is trash to me but a ultimate hidyhole for some small life

 

[TSandM]

I think most of the agencies that put down tire reefs have come to regret having done so. I know it's true in Puget Sound, where there is some interest in removing all the old tire reefs, and replacing some if not all of them with rock and concrete structures, which are much better for sea life. Tires don't make very good habitat, in general, and they break down over time, releasing toxins into the water.

Tires, old batteries, and plastic are pretty clearly unhealthy for the environment. I'm on the fence about aluminum cans, and I'd have to say that I rarely see a bottle that doesn't have SOMEBODY living in it.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

Thanks for the info TSandM. I know even the cement reef balls can be questionable. I think they are doing a better job now but the area they sank them here is pretty devoid of fish. They had the wrong mix too acidic or something. I guess we humans insist on learning the hard way in most things

One problem with artificial reef projects as I see it is the motivation. If it is about getting fish to congregate for fishing the danger is drawing fish from the perimeters and gradually more moving in as those are depleted. Nature hates a vacuum but we seem to provide them too often. If it is about disposing of junk the financial incentive can blind the research.. if there is any. I am hopeful we are doing a better job of it now tho..raying:

Another thing I do in my effort to preserve and protect the Marine environment is talk to and show my pics to the sightseers that are usually around our shore dive sites. When people ask.. what did you see... or give me the opportunity I will show them the shots form the dive on my camera. They are usually amazed at what is "down there". It gives me a chance to educate about the misunderstanding that causes a lot of the foreign material in the water.

I do confess the fishermen usually are the ones who annoy me the most. The ones around here seem to be the most careless about throwing their cigarettes and plastic bags from their bait and lunches into the water or on the shore. I don't get it.. they are taking fish, get stroppy with us for "scaring their fish" but have no respect for the resourse

 

[maderadiver]

Thanks for the info TSandM. I know even the cement reef balls can be questionable. I think they are doing a better job now but the area they sank them here is pretty devoid of fish. They had the wrong mix too acidic or something. I guess we humans insist on learning the hard way in most things

One problem with artificial reef projects as I see it is the motivation. If it is about getting fish to congregate for fishing the danger is drawing fish from the perimeters and gradually more moving in as those are depleted. Nature hates a vacuum but we seem to provide them too often. If it is about disposing of junk the financial incentive can blind the research.. if there is any. I am hopeful we are doing a better job of it now tho..raying:

Another thing I do in my effort to preserve and protect the Marine environment is talk to and show my pics to the sightseers that are usually around our shore dive sites. When people ask.. what did you see... or give me the opportunity I will show them the shots form the dive on my camera. They are usually amazed at what is "down there". It gives me a chance to educate about the misunderstanding that causes a lot of the foreign material in the water.

I do confess the fishermen usually are the ones who annoy me the most. The ones around here seem to be the most careless about throwing their cigarettes and plastic bags from their bait and lunches into the water or on the shore. I don't get it.. they are taking fish, get stroppy with us for "scaring their fish" but have no respect for the resourse

Your killing me with new thoughts I never considered that a artificially made reef would also concentrate wildlife for fishing take resulting in a net loss of wildlife

Why must respect of traditions while balancing the effect on the environment and wildlife be so hard lol

So the only real option is to make the new reef no take zone but then the surounding areas " losses" some of there numbers

 

[MaxBottomtime]

You should report any debris to Ocean Defenders at Ocean Defenders Alliance - Report Debris
They have permission to remove artifacts from Marine Protected Areas in California.

 

[TSandM]

I'm actually involved in a Project Baseline project here in Puget Sound, where we are monitoring an artificial reef made of concrete beams and rock. The State is very interested in whether this site is only recruiting rockfish from other sites (suggested by a preponderance of larger adults) or whether it is recruiting young fish.

Whether, and if so how to create artificial reefs, whether for diving, fishing, or simply species support, is a matter of interest and research. But tires definitely aren't it.