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REEF
Invertebrate Invasive
Tunicates Jan's ------------------- REEF
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by Wes Nicholson Each year for the last four years, REEF has conducted a weeklong survey of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and adjacent waters in the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Neah Bay and Tatoosh Island off Cape Flattery. The OCNMS uses the survey results to help guide management within the sanctuary. The Sanctuary and REEF picks up the costs of the boat and lodgings, leaving the participants to pay for travel, meals, airfills and a $100 participation fee. The Washington Scuba Alliance has reimbursed participants for part of their costs in 2006.
This year the survey took place from Aug 12 - 17. Over the five day period, six survey dives were made at each of 10 survey sites, for a total of 60 surveys taken. Helping with the survey this year were: Claude and Janna Nichols, Doug Biffard, Greg McCormack, Kirby Johnson, Rhoda Green, Steve Rubin, Tom Schaefer, and Wes Nicholson. Bev Biffard, came along as surface support and scan form filler-outer for Doug. In addition, several of the folks used the opportunity of staying in Clallum Bay to dive the Jetty at Seiku.
The diving was fantastic. Great visibility (40 feet plus on lots of the dives), spectacular underwater terrain - kelp forests, rocky reefs and rock walls - and great company. This year a total of 35 fish species were sighted. Diving in this part of the world lets you see critters that you might not get to see very often - species like China, blue and tiger rockfish; pink hydrocoral, and Puget Sound king crab. This year, by thoroughly studying shallow rocky sites, Doug found two rarely sighted species: a brown Irish lord and a crevice kelpfish.
As part of the diving experience, we were able to provide fun and entertainment for a group of young Steller Sea lions off Tatoosh Rock. Younger as in potential juvenile delinquents! These exuberant youngsters had a lot of fun with the slow moving, bubble blowing new toys. Bev said that the sea lions gleefully leaped into the water when the divers left the boat. During the dive they play in our bubbles, often breaking the surface, pretended to bite the surveyors and even nuzzled Tom's head. Lots of fun!
Diving the outer portions of the Strait of Juan de Fuca should be a goal of all serious fish watchers. Participating in an OCNMS survey is likely the cheapest and most satisfying way of doing so. It also is a great way to help the OCNMS and hopefully our underwater friends. "So how can I help?", you might ask. To help with the survey you need to have good critter ID skills and be an active REEF surveyor. People that have been certified as expert surveyors in the PNW are given first consideration. Gaining this level of expertise is not hard - just something that you need to work at. Plans are underway for a new critter ID course that will help folks gain advanced certification.
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