jky
Registered
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a:Sorry I don't remember more details, and that may not be the answer at all, but maybe disease has something to do with the absence of abs in Monterey? Even if not, does anyone know of a disease that affected abs in So Cal? And why not Nor Cal?
Gregg
The disease was withering foot syndrome. The latest theory I heard was that it was concentrated and spread from effluent from ab farms.
Nor Cal didn't get as affected as it seems to thrive in warmer water. NorCal is cool enough that the disease is not real active.
Interestingly, the sabellid worm threat was a great worry until WFS was isolated. Then you never heard about them again.
Monterey has fewer abs than further north due to sea otter predation. A better way to say it would be that the ab population explosion is still occuring along the North Coast due to the lack of sea otters.
If you want to compare NorCal and SoCal populations, the biggest difference there was the lack of commercial take and no scuba take in the north.
The above are my opinions only. Anyone with scientific data who wants to refute my statements, feel free.
jky