Hi all,
I’m looking at future dates for more purple urchin removal dives at Stillwater Cove Regional Park in Sonoma County.
With this latest series of storms coming through it doesn’t look good for January.
I’ll keep an eye on February and post it up if and when it looks like it will happen.
I’ll use this thread for all future urchin removal dives so I won’t have to start a new thread every time.
Meanwhile, we can have a discussion on anything related to urchin diving.
A few things I want to go over for those that are new and want to take part:
You will need a valid CA fishing license. Don’t forget you will also need an ocean enhancement stamp. I just got mine and the total was $65.32
You will also need at least one large green Trident mesh game bag. I have two green bags and a yellow bag, which is one step smaller than the green bag. I can fill all three bags on one dive and have a limit.
You will also need a 50# lift bag to get the urchin bags to the surface so you can float them in. I have an XS Scuba lift bag that I got at Seal’s Watersports in Santa Rosa. Get the deluxe bag because it has a few options to inflate it plus it has a nice big pull dump and they are rugged.
I clip all three bags onto the lift bag and send them up then float them to the beach.
If anyone is unfamiliar with how to use a lift bag, I can explain it, or we can do a dive together and I’ll show you how I do it.
You will need a few containers to put all the urchins in. The limit is 40 gallons if whole purple urchins. I use two 20 gallon Brute trash cans. It is important to have measurable containers so you know when you have reached your limit, and so you can transport them.
I have another eight spare 5 gallon plastic buckets that can be used to measure and contain a limit.
I can probably get more free buckets if anybody needs them.
I have a hand truck to get the containers if urchins from the beach/staging area to the parking area.
I have to think of everything when it comes to logistics. Containers of urchins are heavy!
I would also like to get a hanging scale to weight the bags of urchins as they come in. The Department if Fish and Wildlife would appreciate a report on the poundage and quantity plus the location where urchins are taken so they can use the data for their own purposes. I will be more than happy to supply this information to them.
A data sheet on a clip board with a volunteer taking notes would also be great! if anybody knows someone that would like to help out as surface support that would be fantastic! It could be a non diver.
Also, we need to think about how the urchins get transported and where do they go?
I have a pick up truck and I haul my own urchins.
I have been working on places and people to give the urchins to. The rest go into the green compost can. Many are inedible because they either have very little roe or they are too small.
I suggest contacting people you know and offering free uni to anybody who wants it.
I’ve offered them to the local asian community in our area (free urchins!!) and they are thrilled. The Asian cultures value uni very much so they are very happy to get it. Others are hit and mis, but I spread the information out there none the less.
The rules:
There are only two locations in California that are open to unlimited take of purple sea urchin and also culling (smashing).
One is Caspar Cove in Mendocino County, and the other is Tankers Reef in Monterey County. No other locations allow culling or unlimited take.
In Sonoma, Mendocino, and Humboldt Counties the limit is 40 gallons per day of whole purple urchins. There is no possession limit.
All other species of urchins the limit is 35.
I will go over the difference if anybody is interested but it’s pretty obvious.
Again, we will be concentrating our efforts at Stillwater Cove Regional Park in Sonoma County.
They have bathrooms, picnic tables, and barbecues.
There is a day use parking lot up across the highway in the northwest corner if the campground. The parking fee for the day is $7 unless you have a park pass, then it’s free.
There is also a turn out along hwy 1 right above the cove that is free, but it fills up quickly. And can hold only about 6-8 cars.
Bring everything you think you will need because the closest dive shop is an hour and a half away in Santa Rosa.
Thank you for reading, I hope everyone is getting excited to do this!
This is really important work and I sincerely appreciate all the help I can get!
Thank you so much!
Cheers!
