I was asked to attend a meeting this evening of a group of Catalina technical divers and videographers who plan to remove a fishing net from the "wreck" of the Infidel, a squid fishing seiner that capsized two years ago off Catalina's East End when the captain succumbed to greed and tried to add one more haul to his already full hold of calimari.
Now this is going to be an interesting endeavor since the vessel rests in 150 ft of water. The portion of the net above 60 ft was cut away by Scuba Luv owner Bob Kennedy and other divers shortly after the wreck to eliminate the possibility of hazard to vessels. However, based on the footage of the wreck from shortly after its sinking and from last Sunday, there is a LOT of net yet to remove. It is estimated it may weight as much as 9,000 pounds.
This net has already trapped and drowned about a dozen sea lions and even a well shark and still poses a hazard to marine life and divers who attempt to dive the wreck.
The divers will go out this Saturday to effect the removal. I was asked to go and film some of the operation, but I have a previous commitment this weekend. I may go out on Sunday to get some footage, and will certainly write one of my future columns on this endeavor.
Kurt Lieber, founder of Ocean Defenders Alliance and a member of the board of the Sea Shepherds Conservation Society, is one of the organizers of this effort. Many of you in SoCal (and probably elsewhere) know of Kurt and his work with ODA in removing nets and other hazards from our waters.
I thought it was great that the owner of another fishing vessel, the Captain Jack, is working with the divers to haul the net back up to land and that the local landfill here on Catalina will accept the heavy net free of fees as its donation to the effort.
The reason for my post is that I would like to see efforts like this receive more coverage in the media. These represent one of many ways that we, as divers, can make contributions to the health of our regional ecosystems.
How does one draw in the general public? What zingers and hooks can one use in writing about such efforts that will capture and keep their attention, allowing writers to educate the non-diving public as to the hazards these pose and the need to remove such objects to prevent death to marine life?
Any suggestions?
Of course I'll use sex and humor when I write about it... those two always get my readers' attention!
Now this is going to be an interesting endeavor since the vessel rests in 150 ft of water. The portion of the net above 60 ft was cut away by Scuba Luv owner Bob Kennedy and other divers shortly after the wreck to eliminate the possibility of hazard to vessels. However, based on the footage of the wreck from shortly after its sinking and from last Sunday, there is a LOT of net yet to remove. It is estimated it may weight as much as 9,000 pounds.
This net has already trapped and drowned about a dozen sea lions and even a well shark and still poses a hazard to marine life and divers who attempt to dive the wreck.
The divers will go out this Saturday to effect the removal. I was asked to go and film some of the operation, but I have a previous commitment this weekend. I may go out on Sunday to get some footage, and will certainly write one of my future columns on this endeavor.
Kurt Lieber, founder of Ocean Defenders Alliance and a member of the board of the Sea Shepherds Conservation Society, is one of the organizers of this effort. Many of you in SoCal (and probably elsewhere) know of Kurt and his work with ODA in removing nets and other hazards from our waters.
I thought it was great that the owner of another fishing vessel, the Captain Jack, is working with the divers to haul the net back up to land and that the local landfill here on Catalina will accept the heavy net free of fees as its donation to the effort.
The reason for my post is that I would like to see efforts like this receive more coverage in the media. These represent one of many ways that we, as divers, can make contributions to the health of our regional ecosystems.
How does one draw in the general public? What zingers and hooks can one use in writing about such efforts that will capture and keep their attention, allowing writers to educate the non-diving public as to the hazards these pose and the need to remove such objects to prevent death to marine life?
Any suggestions?
Of course I'll use sex and humor when I write about it... those two always get my readers' attention!
