Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Saving the Pelican in Shelter Cove!



Went down today to Shelter Cove with Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District CEO Jack Crider and Conservation Director Dan Berman. Last we were there a little over a month ago; there was a problem with juvenile Pelicans eating from the fish cleaning station and getting fish oil on their feathers by hanging out under the drainage pipeline when the grinding waste of fish carcasses went out to the ocean.  Our solutions included mesh netting over the cleaning station and an extension to the pipeline into the ocean. Also, the grinding and discharge of waste only at high tide. Our Mitigating measures seemed to have solved the issue. In the last month there have been no Pelicans hanging around. I did notice some around the rocks in the area, so they are still alive in the area.
Old timers hanging around felt the cleaning station is a very productive and “clean” way of doing business and complimented our efforts. They said in the past fisherman would throw their fish waste over the cliff, or in trash cans. It was said that fish waste would be in the tide all over the cove.
But here are what some people are saying, such as Northcoast Environmental Center, Zoo Notes, North Coast Journal and Bird Ally X,
The next hurdle to overcome is the “Water Discharge” issue from the grinder. In the near future it look like the Harbor District will have to dismantle the discharge pipe and come up with further solutions for the fish waste. Any innovative ideas out there?

5 comments:

Fred Mangels said...

Maybe give the fish waste to the local company (Foxfire?) that makes potting soil. If composted it may be useful. Transportation would be a problem, though.

samoasoftball said...

You suggestion may be one of the solutions.........stay tuned.

Christopher Holmquist said...

My dad and I rescued an ill pelican the other day in the marina when I was in the state visiting my parents. Harbor staff has had some disgustingly neglectful words "Oh he's a goner". Amazingly enough, citizens are allowed to pick the ailed ones up and bring them to the authorities. Didn't think that was legal. Also the other day, I found a family in a van feeding a swarm of seagulls and a pelican fast food. I was too tempted to walk up to them and say "What are you stupid?"

samoasoftball said...

Christopher: Not Humboldt Bay Harbor staff, just to clarify. You were on the Eureka harbor side, right?

Christopher Holmquist said...

Oh yes you're right. My mistake. I mean marina staff. Yes I was on the Eureka harbor side