Puget Sound resident killer whales and the Giant Pacific Octopus received good news on August 2 with the federal government deciding to keep the orcas on the Endangered Species list and state government banning GPO harvests in several popular Puget Sound dive spots, including four in West Seattle. Photos: On the left, an octopus hunter was confronted by diving enthusiasts in West Seattle in 2012 for his harvest. At the right, a photo from local orca expert Mark Sears of an orphaned orca named Springer who was reunited with her pod with the help of humans.
Friday, August 2, was a victory for marine wildlife (and those who love to watch them) in the Puget Sound as feds announced the Puget Sound Orca/Killer Whale population will continue to have Endangered Species Act protection, and the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission decided to protect seven new popular dives spots from Giant Pacific Octopus harvest, including several spots along West Seattle’s shores.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that orcas who frequent Puget Sound waters in the summer “are a distinct population group and will remain protected under the Endangered Species Act,” according to Associated Press writer Doug Esser.
Esser wrote NOAA reviewed a petition to delist the killer whales brought by “California farmers who faced water restrictions to protect salmon the orcas eat.”
NOAA rejected the petition, with spokesman Brian Gorman telling Esser, “We have decided these killer whales are a distinct population group … they have their own language, own food source. They don’t interbreed with other groups of killer whales. They meet the legal standards for a distinct population group.”
The Puget Sound population is also known as “Southern residents” made up of three pods – J, K and L. According to NOAA, their current population, in total, is 82. Male orcas can weigh up to 22,000 pounds while females can weigh up to 16,500 pounds.
Octopus harvests limited in Puget Sound
Meanwhile, at the state level on that same day, the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission decided to protect seven popular Puget Sound dive spots from Giant Pacific Octopus (GPO) harvest, known as option C of four they were weighing. The spots include Seacrest Park Coves 1, 2 and 3 (excluding the fishing pier) and the Alki Beach Junk Yard in West Seattle, along with Redondo Beach, Three Tree Point, Les Davis, Days Island and Deception Pass. Beaches in existing Conservation Areas and Marine Preserves are already off limits to octopus hunts.
The commission, in their vote from Olympia streamed to the internet by TVW, said the unanimous decision was not based on plummeting or low GPO numbers (they are abundant), but on the fact that very few are harvested each year (an estimate of two to three a year was mentioned), and on the hope that protecting further popular diving locations will encourage national and international divers to travel here for a peek at the underwater marvels, bolstering the local dive economy and bringing in more general tourist dollars.
To capitalize on the potential tourist draw of their decision, the commission recommended Fish and Wildlife work with the dive industry to promote the additionally protected waters to divers across the world.
The commission had three other options they could have gone with, including (option A) no change to current regulation, (option B) only stopping harvests and Redondo Beach and Seacrest Park Coves 1,2 and 3, or (option D) Puget Sound-wide closure to recreational harvest of GPO.
During public comment 400 people responded, according to a WADFW report. 31 percent favored option C (chosen by the commission), with only option D (to ban all harvest in Puget Sound) receiving more support at 49 percent.
The entire octopus hunting discussion originated right here in West Seattle on Halloween Day, 2012, when a 19-year-old hunter named Dylan Mayer suited up in scuba gear and went under at Seacrest Cove 2 on Alki. He emerged with a female Giant Pacific Octopus in his arms as two diving and wildlife enthusiasts happened to be in the area. They confronted Mayer as he started hitting the octopus to kill it (which is legal, as was his hunt with a proper permit), took photos of him, and send them to citywide media.
Backlash from Seattle’s dive community was strong and petitions were sent to Fish and Wildlife asking the department to stop harvests in popular dive spots. The agency developed four possible solutions and held two public meetings before making a decision in August.
Giant Pacific Octopi are sought out by wildlife enthusiasts and divers due to their size. Adults can weigh up to 33 pounds and can have a tentacle span as long as 14 feet.
