In Reply to: Lobster Season, Wanted Alive and free baby abalone ear rings posted by Captain Andy on September 24, 2012 at 14:20:08:

Actually Max Bottomtime posted this for me as I always have trouble with the pictures. I thought I sent him the poster, not just the picture but I guess not. I’ll ask him to put up the Poster as well.

Here is the text that goes with the picture on the poster.

“Let ‘em live! These really big bugs are too large to fit in a lobster trap and have essentially no natural predators except us divers and hoop netters. These animals fill an important ecological niche and protect the kelp beds as part of the natural structure of the marine environment. And they are far older than you as well so... IF you need to bring one up to prove you caught it, take a picture and then put it
back in the ocean. Now that will impress your friends far more than eating it…”

Paul Dayton, Ph.D., Scripps Institute of Oceanography & Pew Ocean Commission
Chris Miller & John Guth, California Lobster & Trap Fisherman’s Association
Peter Halmay, President California Sea Urchin Harvesters Association
Dale Sheckler, Founder and Former Editor, California Diving News
Eric Frasco, Board Member, Greater Los Angeles Council of Divers
Pat Smith, Author, Shipwrecks of Southern California
Charles Rettig, President, PADI Foundation
Andy Saxon, F/V Moby Kate
Chris Grossman, Diver.net
Glen Fritzler, Truth Aquatics
Ben Hong, Promar Nets

Yes, that was last years official Wanted Alive Poster: I didn’t make up a new one this year. I’ve been making up these posters and distributing them all over S. Cal. for quite a few years now and times have changed. Many and possibly even most seasoned bug divers will now let the big bugs go (or not even bring them up) so I think last years Official “Wanted Alive” poster will be the last one.

Have fun and be safe out there