Squid boats light up Monterey Bay

Fishermen find mollusks in nets for first time in years By KEVIN HOWE Herald Staff Writer Updated: 03/24/2009 08:32:03 AM PDT

The squid lights have been switched back on at Monterey Bay as fishermen have encountered schools of calamari rising to the surface for the first time in recent years. Central Coast fishermen were initially going out for anchovies, but found squid in their nets this spring, said Geoff Shester, senior science manager for Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood Initiative. “This is a significant event,” he said. “There hasn’t been any squid fishing in Monterey for the past three or four years.” There is some debate over the absence of squid, Shester said, whether it is related to climate change, ocean conditions or overfishing.

The state Department of Fish and Game has set a total take limit for the year of 118,000 tons for the entire California coast, down from the previous limit of 125,000 tons. While some marine biologists consider that limit too high, neither limit has been reached in years, Shester said. The squid began hitting March 15, when three boats landed 100 tons of squid, he said, and boats began going out again with squid lamps lighted to draw the tentacled mollusks to the surface.

There are a lot of boats on the water, but not all of them are fishing, Shester said. The large purse seiners are the ones pulling up the squid. Smaller light boats, operated under state permits, sail with them to attract the squid.

Commercial squid fishermen use the bright lights on the boats to lure their prey up from the depths, like moths attracted Advertisement to a flame. Fishermen use various types of seines to catch the squid, bringing the nets to the surface, then lowering a vacuum pump into the net to pump the squid into the hold while culling and releasing other fish caught up in the net. Three purse seiners operating on

Monterey Bay have been joined by others from Southern California, Oregon and Washington. The catches are landed at Moss Landing for processing. Monterey Bay’s squid fishery “is highly episodic,” said Monterey Harbormaster Steve Scheiblauer. “It’s here for a few years, gone for a few years. It’s hard to predict. “The fishermen tell me all the signs are very good for a very healthy fishery.

They’re a fair size, coming early, indications of a good and prolonged season.” Fish and Game requires that fishing cease from noon Friday through noon Sunday, he said, “to give them a weekend,” but allows fishing 24 hours a day otherwise. In addition to the state limits, Scheiblauer said, local fishermen have voluntarily agreed to hold off starting until midnight Sunday and to limit fishing to 12 hours at night weekdays.

The “historic” fishing grounds in Monterey Bay lie between Marina and Lovers Point. Out-of-area boats, Scheiblauer said, appear to be respecting the local voluntary limits. Kevin Howe may be reached at 646-4416 or khowe@montereyherald.com.

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