Diving pics

[airinhere]

Thanks, I went out on Truth Aquatics out of Santa Barbara. They were great! I stayed on the Truth for two days.

The video was easy, I just linked all of the short clips I took while diving in chronological order and then started narrating after I got the clips all lined up. It was fun to do, and I think I will try doing something like this for many of my dives to different locations.

All my photos and the video was shot with a Cannon Powershot G9 in the Cannon underwater case. I used a Sealife 960 strobe and all pictures were taken in manual. I am very impressed with the results I am getting with this little camera and I would recommend one for anyone else thinking about digital photography.

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12120758#post12120758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by airinhere
Yes legally. There are a few protected areas and some restricted species. But according to the California fishing regulations, much of what I am interested in is fullly allowed for collection.

I have never understood the implied assumption of illegal or criminal acvtivity revolving around collecting for personal home aquaria. The laws are almost nonexistent regarding this, yet I am always asked about the legal issues like its some secret crime to collect.

Commercial collection is altogether different,, and there is a $300 or so permit needed to do that. But for personal use nothing is required except a valid state fishing licence with the proper saltwater stamps on it.

I am getting my information from the Department of Fish and Games Marine Life Protection Act main office. (I have been on their mailing lists for almost a year.)

Commercial permits are much harder and costlier to obtain then just paying $300 If you read into it and try to get one you'll find the commercial permit is tagger to a vessal so other permits are needed to get to that point. That may have cahnged in the last two years as I gave up on that one. Even if you do fill out all the paperwork to the T, you will be denied a commercial MO collection permit.

10 years of research here, and a holder of a aquaculture permit If there is no regulation for an animal on the books it would be wise to discount it as being able to be taken (your CA F&G permit only allows you to take what is on the books from what they keep telling me year after year). I've spoken with countless field agents and plenty of higher ups. Every year I talk to my handler to see what new regs are in place. Yes, I even have a handler at CA F&W

 

[airinhere]

I did some looking around last year about collecting on a personal basis and eventually was directed to the MLPA office. Most of the DFG officers and CF&G offices I spoke with had no real opinion about collecting except to say that I needed to have a valid license and there were restrictions regarding game species (mostly fish or crabs). And even then, the limits were on how, total gathered and when.

I specifically asked each group about anemones, small shrimp species, small fish (like gobies), Gorgonians and stony hydrocorals. Only the stony hydrocorals are fully restricted from any collecting (you shouldnt even be touching them really).

Try talking to Karen Miller Henderson at the main MLPA office and she can verify what I am saying. I have been on her mailing list since August and she has been very helpful with my questions and concerns.

At the very most, she recommended obtaining the commercial collecting pemit.

 

[airinhere]

Correction: Melissa Miller-Henson is the person I talked with.

Karen Miller is someone completely different.

(Thats what I get for checking RC during lunch and making a quick post).