Deterrence Methods for Furbags

When Levi was in town for the Ellk tournament he told me about some buzz down south regarding marine mammal deterence techniques that are evidently sanctioned by NOAA.  I think I'll need to get a paintball gun!

The following is from a National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) website...
http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/deter/Dets_Fisher.htm

Potential Deterrence Methods for Pacific Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions

The following list of "potential methods" and "deterrents to avoid" is not an exhaustive list of non-lethal methods or techniques.  If you have questions about protecting your property and/or fishing gear and catch from nuisance Pacific harbor seals and California sea lions, please contact Marine Mammal Specialists (562-980-3232) or NOAA's Office for Law Enforcement (1-800-853-1964).

     

    Potential methods for use by fishers to deter Pacific harbor seals and California sea lions from damaging gear or catch (anglers must be actively fishing with gear deployed).

     

    Visual Repellents/Noise Makers:

    *      boat hazing, circling
    *      pounding on hull
    *      pyrotechnics (e.g., bird screamers, bangers, underwater firecrackers, cracker shells)
    *      starter pistols*
    *      horns, bells, whistles

    Physical Contact:

    *      sling shots
    *      paint ball guns* (paint balls must be non-toxic and water soluble)
    *      non-lethal ammunition (e.g., rubber bullets, sabot rounds, game stingers)

    *The equipment used in these methods must be easily identifiable, at a distance, as a non-lethal weapon.  Use of automatic discharge when using these methods is NOT recommended, due to increased risk of injury to the public and marine mammals.

    Methods to Avoid-the following methods and techniques have an increased likelihood to cause injury or mortality and should be avoided.

    *      No Firearms with "live" lethal ammunition
    *      No Devices with Injurious Projectiles (e.g., archery gear, crossbows, spear guns, bangsticks)
    *      No Sharp/Pointed Objects (harpoons, spears, gaffs, nail studded bats/poles/clubs)
    *      No Entangling Devices (e.g., loose webbing, snares, concertina wire)
    *      No Aggressive Tactile Methods (e.g., striking animals with bats, hammers, etc., impact with vehicles or boats)
    *      No Tainted Baits or Poisons

Now for the fine print....


Warning!

To all who choose to deter marine mammals

Act Responsibly and Use Common Sense! - Regardless of method or intent, the property owner or fisher may be subject to prosecution should a marine mammal be injured or killed as a result of deterrence efforts for the protection of property, gear or catch.

 Remember Personal Safety! -  Attempts by property owners and/or fishers to deter nuisance animals from engaging in unwanted behaviors using non-lethal means is a personal choice and not without risk (to the person doing the deterring and anyone around them).  Sea lions and seals are wild animals that may react unpredictably to non-lethal deterrence measures, resulting in personal injury or additional damage to property.  Sea lions are large and powerful animals that can move as quickly as a person on land.

 Be Aware of People around You and be Courteous! -  The safe use of some of the above-listed potential methods (e.g., cracker shells, non-lethal ammunition) requires considerable skill and experience.  The use of some of these methods may precipitate undesirable social interactions.  If you are in possession of a firearm, law enforcement officers approaching your property or vessel will assume that your firearm is loaded with lethal ammunition.

 Individuals attempting to deter nuisance sea lions and seals, using the above listed potential methods or similar techniques, do so at their own risk.

 

The small bb guns (with plastic bbs) might work!

Softball guns? Naw, I have one of those. I got it to chase squirrels away from our garden and cats away from the songbird feeder without having to use greater velocity BBs and pellets in my Crossman pump or my Beeman pellet rifle let alone my inclination some days to employ my S&W 40 cal pistols which would be frowned upon by the neighbors and local constabulary . I didn't want to risk collateral damage to neighbors windows from ricocheting BBs or pellets so I figured the much lower weight and velocity plactic balls would work for the intended range.  While effective on cats and squirrels as a stinging deterent, I think the thick skins of Pinipeds would make it hard for them to even notice they were hit by anything at all. Doesn't have the force of my Crossman pump-action BB gun by an order of magnitude--too light and too slow (remember F = mv**2). I think a sling shot is a low-tech, corrosion-resistant device and would be my choice if I felt I needed a projectile-based physical-contact deterrent though I have yet to feel I need one. K.I.S.S.

Small blue rockfish, 4 habeneros, use your imagination, enjoy the show!

habeneros under your armpitts for the Taxman????

I like Sean's idea. Catch a few Rockies, force feed them  Habaneros or  Serranos depnding upon their size re-hook and troll them around thefur bags. If it happens a few times, the fur bags will learn hooked fish are nasty Well...either that or we'll see Seals with bottles of tequila and limes lining up around kayaks. 

Small blue rockfish, 4 habeneros, use your imagination, enjoy the show!

HA HA!! NICE IDEA!!