Slog
News & ArtsFriday, November 2, 2012
News Divers Fight to Outlaw Octopus Hunting in Puget Sound
Posted by Cienna Madrid on Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Two divers prepping for a dive in Alki's Cove 2 on Wednesday say they were confronted with a grisly scene: two divers, both young men, emerging from the water towing a live, giant pacific octopus.
"They were punching it as they were towing it in, and it was obviously alive," says Scott Lindy, one of the divers watching from shore. Lindy and his dive buddy started taking pictures of the men and the live octopus, which they threw in the back of their pickup truck. The two hunters couldn't be reached for comment.
Now, bolstered by a growing group of divers who've been outraged by their photos, the men are lobbying to make underwater hunting illegal. "We've approached the Washington Department of Fisheries and Wildlife to request that capturing giant octopus be limited or made illegal entirely statewide—or at the very least, in West Seattle," Lindy explains.
- Scott Lindy and Bob Bailey
Hunting giant pacific octopus is currently legal in most areas of Puget Sound with a recreational fishing license—the limit is one a day—but divers flock to West Seattle dive spots, among others, to see them in their natural habitat. Lindy says that the two men admitted to taking the giant octopus off its nest of eggs.
"It might be legal but it’s the manner in which it was done that’s very disruptive, primarily because we were told by the individual who took it, that this octopus was on eggs," Lundy explains. "By killing her, those thousands of eggs are now dead."
Lindy and Bailey reported the two men to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, but the department found nothing to suggest that illegal activity had occurred.
- Scott Lindy and Bob Bailey
But Bartlett says that, given the feedback his department has received over a few pictures, there's a good shot divers will succeed in changing the rules on octopus hunting. Fishing rules are made by a nine-member citizen commission, which is scheduled to meet again in a matter of weeks. "The rules do change," he says. "They're informed by societal mores as much as by biology. And in my 13 years here, well, I wasn't even aware of the status of octopi but now all our fishery managers are looking into whether this is appropriate [in West Seattle] and in other places."
2
Fish and Wildlife is too busy killing animals to be bothered by this atrocious behavior. Outrageous. Disgusting.
3
How much do mother octopodes protect their eggs? I know that hey are terminal breeders so she was not long for the world anyway.
That said, I would have been very disturbed by what the divers saw as well. Maybe expanding marine preserves off these popular beaches is a good idea.
That said, I would have been very disturbed by what the divers saw as well. Maybe expanding marine preserves off these popular beaches is a good idea.
4
killing octopus is NOT an offense to the Dept of Fish and Wildlife? This makes me sick. Animal abuse is illegal; kicking your dog, punching an octopus. These divers should do jail time.
5
@3: Octopus parenting is pretty much total. The mother sits over the egg mass, protecting them from predators and ventilating them until they hatch. They are, as you pointed out, semelparous, and the mother dies shortly afterwards.
6
I want a Godzilla sized giant octopus to arise from the ocean and wreak revenge on morons who would punch an octopus-mom.
7
I just looked up the rules for harvesting Octopus in the Puget Sound. They state that Octopus "Must be caught with hands or instrument which does not penetrate the OCTOPUS, except that octopus taken while angling with hook and line may be retained." That's the extent of the rules and it doesn't sound like these guys did anything illegal, as much as most people don't like it.
Here's the link: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/sta…
I'm fine with fishing and hunting but it does seem like there would be more humane ways of harvesting Octopi. Also, it seems like there should be some regulation to protect females during breeding season. We have regulations of that type for crab, why not for Octopi?
Here's the link: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/sta…
I'm fine with fishing and hunting but it does seem like there would be more humane ways of harvesting Octopi. Also, it seems like there should be some regulation to protect females during breeding season. We have regulations of that type for crab, why not for Octopi?
8
What exactly would be the purpose of hunting a wild octopus? Would it just be for sick entertainment or is there a practical use (i.e. meat or something)? I honestly have no idea.
9
I'd be for leaving the octopus alone just 'cause they're cool, but setting aside the alleged grisliness of the scene, what was different about this than fishing? When people catch a salmon, don't they usually club it? Were the guys punching the octopus because they thought it was fun, or because they were subduing it? Were these guys going to eat it? And does that matter, since when we catch a fish, I don't think we're legally obligated to eat it? And we see them tossing salmon around all the time at Pike Place Market.
10
I thought my Rage-Meter was already pegged with the election and GOP rape-fest, but it clearly wasn't. Besides the cruelty of taking a mother away from her eggs (they're probably going to die from predation and lack of water circulation), octopi are highly intelligent for invertebrates, so the abusive behavior (punching, throwing it into a trunk) is even more disgusting.
@8 - Octopi can be eaten (not a connoisseur, so I don't know about this species in particular), but I surely wouldn't just chuck future food in my trash heap of a trunk like that.
Suggestions on how to take action on this?
@8 - Octopi can be eaten (not a connoisseur, so I don't know about this species in particular), but I surely wouldn't just chuck future food in my trash heap of a trunk like that.
Suggestions on how to take action on this?
11
@8
Octopus is edible and is part of numerous cuisines. I don't know which types of octopus are best for food, though, or whether the local octopuses are good eatin'.
The Stranger did an article of octopus several years ago. I recall that it stated something like the word octopus is not of Latin derivation, so the plural is octopuses, not octopi.
Octopus is edible and is part of numerous cuisines. I don't know which types of octopus are best for food, though, or whether the local octopuses are good eatin'.
The Stranger did an article of octopus several years ago. I recall that it stated something like the word octopus is not of Latin derivation, so the plural is octopuses, not octopi.
12
I say we cause confusion with the internet and media by dubbing this poor creature "Octomom". Who's with me?
13
@11 - Thanks for beating me to it, but it bears repeating: the plural is octopuses. If you say "octopi" I will murder you in your sleep.
14
Um, guys ...
I have news for you. The chicken, fish, beef (cows), and even vegetables all screamed in agony when they died so you could eat them.
Besides, given the very large sizes of octupus and other marine creatures in Puget Sound, where will the last of the Big Game Hunters go?
I have news for you. The chicken, fish, beef (cows), and even vegetables all screamed in agony when they died so you could eat them.
Besides, given the very large sizes of octupus and other marine creatures in Puget Sound, where will the last of the Big Game Hunters go?
15
@11 - thanks! I would be interested to know if the local variety are for eating.
Also I believe that "octopodes" was actually the correct term in that article because "octopus" is rooted in Greek, but certainly "octopuses" is more correct than "octopi."
Also I believe that "octopodes" was actually the correct term in that article because "octopus" is rooted in Greek, but certainly "octopuses" is more correct than "octopi."
16
Good for the divers who are opposed to this. The question is: Why is this legal?
I have always thought giant octopi are a treasure unique to Puget Sound, as fascinating and awesome as orcas, as far as I'm concerned. They are also supposed to be super smart. Why would someone do this? It's so fucking lame and barbaric. You can't go into the woods and drag an animal out with your bare hands. Why so in the water?
I have always thought giant octopi are a treasure unique to Puget Sound, as fascinating and awesome as orcas, as far as I'm concerned. They are also supposed to be super smart. Why would someone do this? It's so fucking lame and barbaric. You can't go into the woods and drag an animal out with your bare hands. Why so in the water?
19
@15
Uwajimaya sells octopus, but I don't know if it's local. I'm sure other fish sellers have it, also. I have no idea how to prepare it.
Uwajimaya sells octopus, but I don't know if it's local. I'm sure other fish sellers have it, also. I have no idea how to prepare it.
27
They are edible, and quite good. It is nice to see how attitudes change, ever so slowly. I have pictures of my parent's dive club from the '60s showing off the actual mounds of fish they had speared off West Seattle during spear fishing competitions (which my mother often won). It took a while before they realized that might not be such a good idea. Mom often commented on how inquisitive and gentle the octopus were, however she was bitten once; they have a parrot-sized beak. Leave the octopuses be.
28
It's been taken down now, but originally the asshat in question had a bunch of photos visible of his Facebook account of him and his dumbass friends pointing guns at each other, blowing up a snake with a firecracker, being treated for decompression sickness in a hyperbaric chamber, claiming to hunt in Edmonds Underwater Park (illegal), showing how big this octopus they caught was and other ridiculous shit. I think it's safe to say they're dumbass kids who killed this octopus for fun and not for food.
It's also worth mentioning that they've pissed pretty much the entire northwest dive community off with this. Just about every shop in town has said they'll refuse to fill their tanks.
It's also worth mentioning that they've pissed pretty much the entire northwest dive community off with this. Just about every shop in town has said they'll refuse to fill their tanks.
29
Y'know, nature is much crueler than that. You can watch Hyenas tearing into the stomachs of still-living prey on almost any nature channel.... Most people who bother to hunt the octopus are going to eat it.
30
@16 yes, you can use your bare hands (if you city poach). The Stranger has an article that even details how to shoot your hand-catch in the head without killing them. But where would you shoot a octopus?
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Conte…
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Conte…
32
@28 - good to hear they're getting shut out.
@octopus-plural enforcers: usually I'm a grammar-nazi, and while I'll try to be gracious, it was a bit hard to remember my Latin roots when I was seething to see such mistreatment of the actual octopus. I just wrote a letter to the Wash. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Commission urging them to take action on this, so I think my karma balances out here.
re: cruelty. It would not be okay to take a mother bear when she was with her cubs, and it would generally be considered inhumane to drag a dying animal behind your car, even if you planned to eat it. The first is poor wildlife management, and the second is sadism. We don't hunt by tooth and claw, so we don't get to shrug off respect and mercy.
@octopus-plural enforcers: usually I'm a grammar-nazi, and while I'll try to be gracious, it was a bit hard to remember my Latin roots when I was seething to see such mistreatment of the actual octopus. I just wrote a letter to the Wash. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Commission urging them to take action on this, so I think my karma balances out here.
re: cruelty. It would not be okay to take a mother bear when she was with her cubs, and it would generally be considered inhumane to drag a dying animal behind your car, even if you planned to eat it. The first is poor wildlife management, and the second is sadism. We don't hunt by tooth and claw, so we don't get to shrug off respect and mercy.
33
I agree with Some Old Nobodaddy ... legality doesn't imply morality. History is rife with examples of legal acts later deemed immoral or barbaric. So much horrific treatment toward wildlife is accepted in our culture under the auspices of legality. As a wildlife rehabilitator and one who's encountered plenty of hunting and trapping in the field, I wish that what happened to this octopus was an isolated incident. However, there is so much wildlife abuse as to constitute a betrayal of the public trust when you look at what's involved in many of these practices.
@sanotehu, your depiction of nature as "red in tooth and claw" -- with "hyenas tearing into the stomachs of still-living prey" is not accurate. You do realize that these shows are edited for maximum drama. I spend a lot of time in the field with wildlife and I can tell you that natural predation is in no way as incessant and dramatic as what, say, a field of waterfowl hunters incurs. In fact, most prey animals live in relative peace with occasional intrusions by predators, and they are adapted to the scents, signals and communal communications that tend to occur, say, among bird species when an overhead predator is spotted. This is nothing close to what we humans deem as "natural" when we insert ourselves into this same system.
Suggesting that because nature is sometimes cruel, that we humans should also be cruel, is a logical fallacy, and one that betrays our better nature and our ability to decide otherwise.
@sanotehu, your depiction of nature as "red in tooth and claw" -- with "hyenas tearing into the stomachs of still-living prey" is not accurate. You do realize that these shows are edited for maximum drama. I spend a lot of time in the field with wildlife and I can tell you that natural predation is in no way as incessant and dramatic as what, say, a field of waterfowl hunters incurs. In fact, most prey animals live in relative peace with occasional intrusions by predators, and they are adapted to the scents, signals and communal communications that tend to occur, say, among bird species when an overhead predator is spotted. This is nothing close to what we humans deem as "natural" when we insert ourselves into this same system.
Suggesting that because nature is sometimes cruel, that we humans should also be cruel, is a logical fallacy, and one that betrays our better nature and our ability to decide otherwise.
34
PGO is commercially fished (at least in Alaska), and although quite tasty much of the catch is also used for bait or dumped overboard when it is an incidental part of the catch.
36
@35, no, WDFW is swayed by special interest groups and whatever pocket change is keeping the lights on. (Relative in the family is a veteran biologist.) In the case of hunting octopuses, I'm sure that it's not done seriously enough to have a fishing limit, and so far they haven't had to address a scientific need to make a limit. The emotional need from the public came first. This is exactly how it works.
Keep it up, divers. WDFW has been gutted by funding cuts and inefficient management at the upper levels. This--making a stink--is the best way to get policy changes made.
Keep it up, divers. WDFW has been gutted by funding cuts and inefficient management at the upper levels. This--making a stink--is the best way to get policy changes made.
37
@dean.fuller, there's no such thing as "pure science," unless you mean that all wildlife decisions should be based strictly on population numbers. As you may know, science as a whole, and wildlife science in specific, is an ever-evolving understanding of planetary mechanisms, biology and mind. You may not be aware that newer reasoning in biological fields is increasingly using individual animal sentience as a measure of scientific validity, so what you construe as "emotion" could also be argued as a more enlightened understanding of how we ought to interact with other species, irrespective of cold data.
38
So if I like deer can we outlaw deer hunting? Looks some people don't like hunting fine but as long as we allow hunting things like this will happen.
42
How can people not know octopus is edible. Jesus Christ. Have these people not ever eaten sushi?
The issue here is that the west seattle Octopi are basically tame and once divers start hunting them they will learn to avoid those waters and then voilà no more pretty octopi to look at. Or hunt.
Cruel is relative.
And as a person who spend a great deal of time in nature and watching wildlife your characterization of wild animal predation has some how less painful or more noble than human predation is romantic poppycock. The idea that a deer being shot through the lungs by .30-06 is any less cruel than it's throat being torn out and it being asphyxiated by a predator is nonsense.
BTW I have seen with my own eyes bear kill and torture a deer purely for sport. Big cats and even wolves are notorious for this.
The difference is wild animals live in balance with their prey. If they over hunt, prey becomes scarce and the predator starves until population balance is restored.
Human predation, on the other hand, can occur regardless of the status of the prey population and can hunt to extinction wildlife in short order.
That's why we need to regulate hunting.
Do you know what's cruel? That you and I live in this sprawling over-populated technological society and rarely question the immense impact our lives of convenience have on the natural world. That our lifestyles themselves cause orders of magnitude MORE suffering and cruelty on animals than hunting ever could.
More...
The issue here is that the west seattle Octopi are basically tame and once divers start hunting them they will learn to avoid those waters and then voilà no more pretty octopi to look at. Or hunt.
Suggesting that because nature is sometimes cruel, that we humans should also be cruel, is a logical fallacy, and one that betrays our better nature and our ability to decide otherwise.
Cruel is relative.
And as a person who spend a great deal of time in nature and watching wildlife your characterization of wild animal predation has some how less painful or more noble than human predation is romantic poppycock. The idea that a deer being shot through the lungs by .30-06 is any less cruel than it's throat being torn out and it being asphyxiated by a predator is nonsense.
BTW I have seen with my own eyes bear kill and torture a deer purely for sport. Big cats and even wolves are notorious for this.
The difference is wild animals live in balance with their prey. If they over hunt, prey becomes scarce and the predator starves until population balance is restored.
Human predation, on the other hand, can occur regardless of the status of the prey population and can hunt to extinction wildlife in short order.
That's why we need to regulate hunting.
Do you know what's cruel? That you and I live in this sprawling over-populated technological society and rarely question the immense impact our lives of convenience have on the natural world. That our lifestyles themselves cause orders of magnitude MORE suffering and cruelty on animals than hunting ever could.
45
I see a similar pathology between those two and this federal "wildlife specialist" who would sic his dogs on trapped live coyotes and wolves (then post pictures on FB and Twitter). [Warning: pictures may be disturbing] http://www.demarcatedlandscapes.com/2012…
To simply shrug one's shoulders and say, "Well, it's legal, people are gonna do it" is unacceptable.
To simply shrug one's shoulders and say, "Well, it's legal, people are gonna do it" is unacceptable.
46
Oh but this douchebag did stop by to make a comment on a now-deleted West Seattle Blog forum thread. I'll let him speak for himself:
"So far allot of people have listened to what this man has said. and haven't heard my side.
I would like to state that the octopus was not on eggs and nor I did say it was. when he asked me “what if it was protecting its eggs” I said “well its not now” sarcastically. I never said there were eggs and I am outraged this story was fabricated... let alone the game warden said she thinks it was male shortly after she told me I broke no laws taking this animal. she even looked over the body at my house Thursday to be sure I did not stab it (and yes I did still have the body after butcher).
that being said I did not know this would get people in an uproar. and yes I did brag, I am a 20 year old GUY what did you expect, I got him by myself and I was proud of the catch. this is no different from a salmon fisherman proud of a huge fish he may have gotten. and yes was I rude to this man, however I kept my cool as long as I could and all I could think was “this asshole is yelling at me when there are others doing it daily”. I’ve only gotten two. I don’t do it because I’m sick and like to kill things. I do it because I enjoy the meat. ever had sushi? well what do you think some of the roll have in them?
lastly because of all the death threats, harassment, oh yeah and posting my employers number (they were innocent here but still had to deal with a couple HUNDRED calls from you people), I've decided that if this guy apologizes and asks me nicely to not hunt that area (like he should in the first place have, I would have understood if he didn't start off with calling me a fucker) to me via email/ gets rid of the people threatening to kill me and my family to stop, then I will never hunt that area again.
however if he refuses and I continue to get people calling me, messaging me, threatening me, spamming me, etc, then I will continue to hunt the area. local law enforcement have been contacted in regards to the issue and they say you may not stop me, touch me, block me, or interfere with me in anyway or the individuals will be subjected to criminal prosecution."
More...
"So far allot of people have listened to what this man has said. and haven't heard my side.
I would like to state that the octopus was not on eggs and nor I did say it was. when he asked me “what if it was protecting its eggs” I said “well its not now” sarcastically. I never said there were eggs and I am outraged this story was fabricated... let alone the game warden said she thinks it was male shortly after she told me I broke no laws taking this animal. she even looked over the body at my house Thursday to be sure I did not stab it (and yes I did still have the body after butcher).
that being said I did not know this would get people in an uproar. and yes I did brag, I am a 20 year old GUY what did you expect, I got him by myself and I was proud of the catch. this is no different from a salmon fisherman proud of a huge fish he may have gotten. and yes was I rude to this man, however I kept my cool as long as I could and all I could think was “this asshole is yelling at me when there are others doing it daily”. I’ve only gotten two. I don’t do it because I’m sick and like to kill things. I do it because I enjoy the meat. ever had sushi? well what do you think some of the roll have in them?
lastly because of all the death threats, harassment, oh yeah and posting my employers number (they were innocent here but still had to deal with a couple HUNDRED calls from you people), I've decided that if this guy apologizes and asks me nicely to not hunt that area (like he should in the first place have, I would have understood if he didn't start off with calling me a fucker) to me via email/ gets rid of the people threatening to kill me and my family to stop, then I will never hunt that area again.
however if he refuses and I continue to get people calling me, messaging me, threatening me, spamming me, etc, then I will continue to hunt the area. local law enforcement have been contacted in regards to the issue and they say you may not stop me, touch me, block me, or interfere with me in anyway or the individuals will be subjected to criminal prosecution."
47
Octopus that are caught during normal fishing aren't females on eggs since once a female octopus lays eggs they stay with them non-stop and do not eat or leave their eggs for any reason until they hatch (the female dies shortly afterwards). I'm pretty opposed to hunting octopus and I will admit it's equally for emotional as well as ethical reasons. Octopus are incredibly intelligent animals and some have passed the mirror test for self-awareness so I think it's ethically questionable to hunt them like it's questionable to hunt other intelligent animals like dolphins. I also love octopus and seeing them hurt, especially for fun and not food, is emotionally painful to me.
48
so lets all picket all the sushi and seafood restaurants and fish markets and ......mmmm takoyaki!
49
"however if he refuses and I continue to get people calling me, messaging me, threatening me, spamming me, etc, then I will continue to hunt the area. " -- Passive-aggressive retributive hunting: solving online harassment since never.
52
"however if he refuses and I continue to get people calling me, messaging me, threatening me, spamming me, etc, then I will continue to hunt the area. "
Well, enjoy getting your tires knifed, Dylan.
Well, enjoy getting your tires knifed, Dylan.
53
I hear pigs are fairly intelligent as well.
I'm pretty fond of octopuses myself but does no one here see the extreme dippiness of flaking out about killing/eating cute and/or cuddly animals and then donning the leather jacket to go out for a burger?
I'm pretty fond of octopuses myself but does no one here see the extreme dippiness of flaking out about killing/eating cute and/or cuddly animals and then donning the leather jacket to go out for a burger?
54
@53: Would you feel the same way about someone dragging a half-dead dog behind their car? Or someone strangling a bald eagle? The octopuses at Alki are a local treasure, there are only a handful living there, and they are acclimated to humans coming to visit them (and so are not even "good sport" for "hunting"). Last I checked, octopuses are not considered to be charismatic megafauna and so are not treated with the same consideration as other animals, despite their intelligence. Finally, it is good policy to put restrictions on killing breeding females, especially when they are caring for young - killing them guarantees that you won't have any more in a couple seasons.
55
#53, nope you're missing one HUGE difference, in fact it's shocking that you, an intelligent creature that is potty trained misses the most basic difference.
Domestication.
Pigs for food are dependent on humans for feeding and shelter and care and yada yada. The Octopus is in no way dependent on humans for survival, provided humans don't poison Elliot Bay in totality.
Domestication.
Pigs for food are dependent on humans for feeding and shelter and care and yada yada. The Octopus is in no way dependent on humans for survival, provided humans don't poison Elliot Bay in totality.
56
Just heard an interview of the mom of one of these kids. She is asking for compassion for her sons. What a joke when her kid seems to lack compassion for all the animals he kills or hurts. Shooting cows and kicking them in the head, taking pictures of other tortured animals and punching an octopus to kill it. Either she's done a lousy job of teaching her kids to care for others- or this kid is a jeff dahmer in the making. I'm so glad the guys who witnessed this spoke up. Otherwise these creeps would go unnoticed since their victims can't talk.
59
" I also love octopus and seeing them hurt is emotionally painful to me."
You need to see a therapist. Me, I love my octopussy served up sashimi style or in a lovely takoyaki at a summer matsuri. I've also eaten whale and Dolphin. Don't like that? Fuck you racist.
You need to see a therapist. Me, I love my octopussy served up sashimi style or in a lovely takoyaki at a summer matsuri. I've also eaten whale and Dolphin. Don't like that? Fuck you racist.
60
So, according to what I'm reading here, these guys are selfish sadists who flaunt their cruelty and remorselessly spoil a community's natural treasure, even when they're found out? Well, mob justice will get to them.
What insufferable, entitled jerks.
What insufferable, entitled jerks.
63
I never spoke to anyone by the name of Lindy. This octopus was male and that has already been cleared that it is male by another station and made clear in several sites. there were no eggs. the octopus was inspected by a game warden. we also thought this was a fishing spot considering ive seen people jigging for octopus so it was a mistake. we did not know we were pissing people off.
this is a very one sided article considering none of these people even tried to contact me and just began typing up new fabricated stories like the other sites all brought on by one individual who made false statements.
i would also like to say the my family and i have gotten hundreds of death threats over this, i lost my job due to hundreds of calls going in at my work, and i am no longer able to go to school in Washington state to be a rescue diver because these lies have traveled to the schools of which banned me.
let me add all this stuff i have said is all over a octopus i legally fished thinking it was okay. lawyers have been contacted and because of the effect these false postings have cause, legal action is being considered.
-one of the octopus huners
this is a very one sided article considering none of these people even tried to contact me and just began typing up new fabricated stories like the other sites all brought on by one individual who made false statements.
i would also like to say the my family and i have gotten hundreds of death threats over this, i lost my job due to hundreds of calls going in at my work, and i am no longer able to go to school in Washington state to be a rescue diver because these lies have traveled to the schools of which banned me.
let me add all this stuff i have said is all over a octopus i legally fished thinking it was okay. lawyers have been contacted and because of the effect these false postings have cause, legal action is being considered.
-one of the octopus huners
64
I never spoke to anyone by the name of Lindy. This octopus was male and that has already been cleared that it is male by another station and made clear in several sites. there were no eggs. the octopus was inspected by a game warden. we also thought this was a fishing spot considering ive seen people jigging for octopus so it was a mistake. we did not know we were pissing people off.
this is a very one sided article considering none of these people even tried to contact me and just began typing up new fabricated stories like the other sites all brought on by one individual who made false statements.
i would also like to say the my family and i have gotten hundreds of death threats over this, i lost my job due to hundreds of calls going in at my work, and i am no longer able to go to school in Washington state to be a rescue diver because these lies have traveled to the schools of which banned me.
let me add all this stuff i have said is all over a octopus i legally fished thinking it was okay. lawyers have been contacted and because of the effect these false postings have cause, legal action is being considered.
-one of the octopus huners
this is a very one sided article considering none of these people even tried to contact me and just began typing up new fabricated stories like the other sites all brought on by one individual who made false statements.
i would also like to say the my family and i have gotten hundreds of death threats over this, i lost my job due to hundreds of calls going in at my work, and i am no longer able to go to school in Washington state to be a rescue diver because these lies have traveled to the schools of which banned me.
let me add all this stuff i have said is all over a octopus i legally fished thinking it was okay. lawyers have been contacted and because of the effect these false postings have cause, legal action is being considered.
-one of the octopus huners
66
@63 - Boooooo hoooooo. Actions have consequences. I lost my job. I lost my school. Blah blah blah. That octopus lost its life. Such priveledge to think that the quality of your life is in any way more important than the life of another being. Get over yourself.
67
If you guys disagree with the law then work to change it. But for fuck's sake if you want to change the law do so based on science, not based on the crazy emotional responses we're seeing on this comment thread. If there is a conservation need, present the evidence. If there is a more humane way of harvesting, present the evidence. The hysteria on this thread reminds me of the crazy republican rants I've been bombarded with lately. It doesn't sound like the kid broke any laws, but if he did the authorities are the ones that need to prosecute. It is COMPLETELY unacceptable for people to be making death threats and harassing someone who did not break the law. This is (supposed to be) a civilized society and you people are running around half cocked like a bunch of anti-abortion fundamentalists. Like I said, don't agree with the current laws? Work to change them, don't bully a 20 year old kid.
68
And also @9 - The end of your comment made me laugh... You have clearly never fished or hunted I assume? When we fish we club them then toss them in a 5 gallon bucket. It's anything but clean - we do the cleaning at home. I don't hunt but my boyfriend does. When you kill a deer you generally split it down the middle, gut it on the ground, then load the carcass it in the back of a pickup. Again, the butchering/cleaning happens at home. If you think any of that saran wrapped food at the supermarket comes from anything resembling a sterile environment you're in for a rude awakening.
69
Sounds like typical careless asians raping the marine life so they can make some shitty food or penis cream or whatever.
71
If these sad, emotionally distressed white liberals ever travel and see how other cultures live in close contact with the food chain they'll need years of therapy. Seriously, get out of your fucking bubbles. An hour in any Asian or African food market will do you a world if good.
74
Sign petition here: The Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) is the largest species of octopus in the world and an icon of the Pacific Northwest. Weighing over 150lbs and reaching lengths of up to 20 feet, divers travel from all across the globe for a chance to glimpse these majestic creatures in their natural habitat of Puget Sound. Alki Seacrest Park, located a mere 2 miles from the Seattle City Center, is the epicenter of this budding diving ecotourism industry and is regularly home to 1-2 Giant Pacific Octopus, (or GPOs). Even more amazing, many of these very special GPOs nest and nurture between 50,000 and 100,000 eggs, which represent the future of this magnificent species.
Despite their incredible intelligence and beauty, however, current fishing regulations do very little to protect this species. Current regulations permit the harvest of one GPO a day year-round, meaning a single ambitious diver could effectively decimate the entire Alki GPO population in a matter of days. Because of this, it is absolutely vital to the ecosystem of Puget Sound to protect this iconic creature, and the population residing at Seacrest Park represents an incredibly unique and valuable resource for divers and the city of Seattle alike. Protecting this population would empower visitors from around the world to visit and witness the majesty of our octopus population, educate the public about the importance of marine conservation, and establish Seattle as a world-class diving destination.
The Orca, the Sixgill Shark, the Wolf-eel – these are all iconic Pacific Northwest species that have earned the protection they deserve, and yet the Giant Pacific Octopus is conspicuously absent from this list. We request that the Washington Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and/or the City of Seattle (1) establish a GPO harvest-free zone encompassing the marine environment surrounding Alki Seacrest Park, and (2) begin evaluating the long term consequences of limiting GPO harvesting in Washington State.
http://www.divenewsnetwork.com/index.php…
More...
Despite their incredible intelligence and beauty, however, current fishing regulations do very little to protect this species. Current regulations permit the harvest of one GPO a day year-round, meaning a single ambitious diver could effectively decimate the entire Alki GPO population in a matter of days. Because of this, it is absolutely vital to the ecosystem of Puget Sound to protect this iconic creature, and the population residing at Seacrest Park represents an incredibly unique and valuable resource for divers and the city of Seattle alike. Protecting this population would empower visitors from around the world to visit and witness the majesty of our octopus population, educate the public about the importance of marine conservation, and establish Seattle as a world-class diving destination.
The Orca, the Sixgill Shark, the Wolf-eel – these are all iconic Pacific Northwest species that have earned the protection they deserve, and yet the Giant Pacific Octopus is conspicuously absent from this list. We request that the Washington Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and/or the City of Seattle (1) establish a GPO harvest-free zone encompassing the marine environment surrounding Alki Seacrest Park, and (2) begin evaluating the long term consequences of limiting GPO harvesting in Washington State.
http://www.divenewsnetwork.com/index.php…
75
"this kid is a jeff dahmer in the making"
Seriously?
By all means petition to create a protected area. Maybe the species should be protected if it is threatened. But carnivores freaking out about the killing of some particular animal just because they happen to think it is cool/cute whatever, is just plain nutty.
Sometimes the dippiness in this town is just embarrassing.
Seriously?
By all means petition to create a protected area. Maybe the species should be protected if it is threatened. But carnivores freaking out about the killing of some particular animal just because they happen to think it is cool/cute whatever, is just plain nutty.
Sometimes the dippiness in this town is just embarrassing.
76
Looks like the Eco-divers want to protect their game. Not to worry, there will still be plenty of octopussies on view at Uyajimaya for those who truly love them.
77
" the long term consequences of limiting GPO harvesting in Washington State. "
Are they endangered or are you just imposing your 'superior' cultural values on the rest of us? Why are white people such racists against other cultures eating habits?
Are they endangered or are you just imposing your 'superior' cultural values on the rest of us? Why are white people such racists against other cultures eating habits?
78
horrific story but these comments are filled with great educational tips, calls to action, and comedy GOLD (esp #1).
As my wife just said, "why doesn't someone go punch the real Octomom instead"? Exactly!
Thanks to all!
As my wife just said, "why doesn't someone go punch the real Octomom instead"? Exactly!
Thanks to all!
79
This kid is a douchebag and his parents must be real douchebags to raise a kid to not care about animals. Who needs people in this world that don't care about other people,animals, and nature. That's why showing kids how to be kind to animals shows them how to be kind to others and themselves. You can still do violent stuff for fun that doesn't hurt living beings, like me i do kungfu, play heavy metal, surf, shoot guns at targets.Going around getting fun out of killing other living creatures is the same as if someone thinks it's fun to kill people too, on a serial killers level.
80
*RAGES* THEY HAVE MURDERED AN INNOCENT OCTOPUS! Octopus are intelligent creatures! And whether or not they are terminal breeders and she would've died soon anyway taking an octopus off her nest because it's easier is the absolute LOWEST thing you can do.
81
*RAGES* THEY HAVE MURDERED AN INNOCENT OCTOPUS! Octopus are intelligent creatures! And whether or not they are terminal breeders and she would've died soon anyway taking an octopus off her nest because it's easier is the absolute LOWEST thing you can do.
82
@61 - Merriam-Webster can eat me.
Descriptivist buffoons wouldn't know English if it slapped them in the common usage.
Descriptivist buffoons wouldn't know English if it slapped them in the common usage.
83
I have one word for you vegan nutcases: pulpo.
Better go picket the tapas restaurants, because pulpo is the #1 tapas.
Better go picket the tapas restaurants, because pulpo is the #1 tapas.
86
The octopuss is probably used to interacting with divers and likes them just like most animals in parks that interact with park visitors etc. just like killer whales interact with boats and people, then to have a total douche bag go in there and kill the octopuss how would you like someone coming in your home and murdering you. You dirtbags don't care cause you're people and you can only identify with living beings that are like yourself but if you were an octopuss or any animal being killed for sport you'd care a lot. So all im saying is serial killers are just like you people that don't care the only difference is they like to kill people and you think it's fun to kill other types of animals. I myself don't mind doing what's right in life and respecting nature and animals and only killing if i need to eat and not hurting an animal in a park or one that's used to people being in it's area cause im not a royal douche bag like dylan mayer or ted nugent
87
" if you were an octopuss or any animal being killed for sport you'd care a lot. "
I'm pretty sure animals don't know the difference of whether they will be sport and dinner.
I'm pretty sure animals don't know the difference of whether they will be sport and dinner.
88
Technically, the plural of octopus is octopedes. The word is from two Greek words (octo = eight, and pus = foot). The plural of pus is pedes (as in pedestrian).
The changing of a -us suffix to an -i to denote plurality is for Latin, not Greek (e.g. alumnus to alumni). You should never change octopus to octopi to denote plurality.
Octopuses is acceptable. In English, we don't always follow the rules of the original language when making words plural. So while we follow Latin for alumnus, we don't follow Latin for campus. We say campuses, not campi.
The changing of a -us suffix to an -i to denote plurality is for Latin, not Greek (e.g. alumnus to alumni). You should never change octopus to octopi to denote plurality.
Octopuses is acceptable. In English, we don't always follow the rules of the original language when making words plural. So while we follow Latin for alumnus, we don't follow Latin for campus. We say campuses, not campi.
89
@69:
Dear Typical Trolling Racist Cocksucker,
Fuck you.
Love,
The Asians
Sounds like typical careless asians raping the marine life so they can make some shitty food or penis cream or whatever.
Dear Typical Trolling Racist Cocksucker,
Fuck you.
Love,
The Asians
90
In English, we don't always follow the rules of the original language when making words plural.It is more accurate to say that in English we never follow the rules of the donor language when making plurals. Why should we? "Octopus" is an English word. It's interesting that it's from Greek roots, but that has nothing to do with plurals in English. It's certainly not a Greek word; Greek doesn't even use our alphabet.
The plural is "octopuses". Period. And stadiums, and campuses, and pajamas, and assassins, and robots, and tycoons, and bananas, and skis. People who use Latin endings because they think it makes them look smart are achieving the opposite effect.
91
@90 - I'm not sure we have a difference of thought. I was saying one is technically correct (linguistically) and the other is correct per our language rules (much like the exampes you/I point out, including campus). I was saying 'octopi' is never correct, because it doesn't follow the original or the English pluralization rules.
But you are incorrect in your statement that English never follows original language pluralization rules, case in point: alumnus/alumni, cactus/cacti, appendix/appendices, etc.
But you are incorrect in your statement that English never follows original language pluralization rules, case in point: alumnus/alumni, cactus/cacti, appendix/appendices, etc.
92
#89 is one of those drivers in "The International District" who closes his eyes, stomps on the gas pedal, and shouts, "I go there!"
94
I like to eat octopi. I just tried a recipe for Octopus Poke from a Hawaiian divers' site. I bought some from Uwajimaya in Oregon. It was about 3 lbs. The package says it is a product of the USA. I wonder if it is from the Puget Sound? I have purchased it before in different Asian markets, but it was always imported.
95
I like to eat octopus. I just tried a recipe for Octopus Poke from a Hawaiian divers' site. I bought some from Uwajimaya in Oregon. It was about 3 lbs. The package says it is a product of the USA. I wonder if it is from the Puget Sound? I have purchased it before in different Asian markets, but it was always imported.
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