Posted by Walt on March 15, 2005 at 20:44:47:
In Reply to: Re: I haven't seen decimation caused by otters posted by seahunt on March 15, 2005 at 06:23:53:
>>I haven't seen decimation caused by otters
>I sure have.
We haven't, especially in otter preserves, so we disagree on this point...plus if there wasn't food around, the otters would move on.
>>Seeing otters is a sign that the overall water quality is improving and that is a welcome sign to me.
>Uh, actually it isn't any indication of that at all. Otters just show that there is something for them to eat. Water quality has been improving for 20 years. There is now some kelp in Santa Monica Bay again.
My point exactly; the water quality is getting better. That's a good thing (unless we humans screw it up again)
>>sure it led to a one-time boom for abalone,
>With current game management techniques, there can be a indefinate sustained harvest of abalone, urchins, scallops and clams. It isn't a one time boon... unless the otters come back.
Wrong...hunters will take the last rock scallop along the coast; seen this happen too often. Urchins are too plentiful - we NEED otters to bring them under control ("hunters" are killing off too many sheepshead; my opinion is that anyone who'd take a sheepshead on spear would shoot a fish in a barrel)...abalone probably will never return to SoCal and its not the otter's fault because tehy haven't been around to wipe them out - that's the result of poor amnagement and hunters. Game managementin California doesn't go nearly far enough to make sure we have abundant harvests. We need closures and better understanding of breeding and species recovery - we're no where near where we need to be.