Divers, Instructors Boaters and Anglers... Comments on the invasive Sargassum?

[drbill]

I have decided to put together a short video (or, more likely a longer one with an abbreviated executive summary piece) on the impacts the invasive Asian kelp Sargassum filicinum is having on our natural ecosystems AND human recreational activities in SoCal. I plan to send his to the CDF&G Commissioners in an effort to get them to realize how serious this invasion is, and how many different user groups it is affecting.

I am soliciting input from recreational divers and dive instructors as to how its presence has affected their ability to dive and their enjoyment of the activity. Instructors might comment on how difficult it has made teaching OW classes because there is so little unaffected area in shallow water.

I have started hearing from boaters how it is fouling their cooling system filters as it begins its annual breakup. I would assume it has also affected things like boat operation and anchoring at shallower sites.

I did hear from a local charter fishing boat captain that it was a PITA for him. I'm wondering if other anglers (commercial/charter or recreational) are experiencing problems with the stuff that they'd be willing to talk about.

I plan to do short interviews with people involved in different near shore recreational activities to try to give CDF&G a broader picture of the invasive's impacts. Looking for people willing to do a 10-15 second "interview" spot (possibly longer) to voice the problems they have been having with it.

I can deal with the ecological impacts, but I think it would be much more convincing if different recreation users chimed in from different perspectives.

 

[bertramguy]

I sucked a bunch of it up into my generator intake and it completely clogged the sea strainer destroying the waterpump impeller and overheating the generator. This all happened on the mooring at Hen Rock last weekend. When it costs me money it goes from being an inconvienience to being a major problem. Fortunately I was able to get a new impeller in Avalon.

 

[fnfalman]

As a recreational diver, it affected my ability to enjoy the reef by blocking the view.

 

[blue steal]

Agree with fnfalman. The Sargassum is everywhere, we could not find a patch of clear viewing.
We dove east quarry, reef by the isthmus, and bird rock, terrible stuff, gets tangled in your fins.

 

[merxlin]

While escorting a batch of fresh OW students on a tour last Saturday, we had to forego the trip we usually take in and out of the edge of the kelp. The sargassum was so thick you couldn't see the reef, and a bunch of students would have stirred up all kinds of debris from it.

 

[USCScubaboy]

None of the shore dives I did last week in Laguna Beach seem too affected by it. Even in the kelp patch we dove straight out from Diver's cove, there wasn't really any Sargassum.

 

[drbill]

Looking to get short (10-15 sec) comments on video... talking head sort of stuff. Also video or still images of effects such as clogged strainers, etc. If anyone has had such an experience and would be willing to be filmed next time they come to Avalon, it would be a big help in trying to get this issue before the powers that be.

 

[bertramguy]

No problem I'll even give you my lunched impeller, I wish I would have taken a picture of the clogged sea strainer, never thought of that. It might be a couple weeks before I'm back.

 

[Teamcasa]

I hate the stuff but lack the ability or cleverness to figure out how to get rid of it. More than likely, any cure will be worse than the problem.

OTOH, if we can convince people that Sargassum is an aphrodisiac, the stuff would vanish quicker than Tiger Woods sponsors.

 

[merxlin]

Actually Dr. Bill that is a good question. Is there any physical way to rid the island of the stuff?