China Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I for one welcome our new squid overlords. Voracious jumbo squid invade California MONTEREY, Calif. - Jumbo squid that can grow up to 7 feet long and weigh more than 110 pounds are invading central California waters and preying on local anchovy, hake and other commercial fish populations, according to a study published Tuesday. An aggressive predator, the Humboldt squid — or Dosidicus gigas — can change its eating habits to consume the food supply favored by tuna and sharks, its closest competitors, according to an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal. "Having a new, voracious predator set up shop here in California may be yet another thing for fishermen to compete with," said the study's co-author, Stanford University researcher Louis Zeidberg. "That said, if a squid saw a human they would jet the other way." The jumbo squid used to be found only in the Pacific Ocean's warmest stretches near the equator. In the last 16 years, it has expanded its territory throughout California waters, and squid have even been found in the icy waters off Alaska, Zeidberg said. Zeidberg's co-author, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute senior scientist Bruce Robison, first spotted the jumbo squid here in 1997, when one swam past the lens of a camera mounted on a submersible thousands of feet below the ocean's surface. More were observed through 1999, but the squid weren't seen again locally until the fall of 2002. Since their return, scientists have noted a corresponding drop in the population of Pacific hake, a whitefish the squid feeds on that is often used in fish sticks, Zeidberg said. Click on the link for the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I thought his name was Lewis Zoidberg? Had to keep the cartoon references going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zguy28 Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 "That said, if a squid saw a human they would jet the other way."I wonder if that would be the case with a small child? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Proof of the threat they pose to local fisherman. ~Bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinInsite Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Mmmmm, fried calamari. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUSkinsFan Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 When I opened this thread I thought it would be more along these lines: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I suppose it goes without saying that my friends who surf and scuba dive around here are not particularly pleased with this development. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 12th Commandment Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I suppose it goes without saying that my friends who surf and scuba dive around here are not particularly pleased with this development. Damn, you mean there's people who swim in that frigid water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsOrlando Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I suppose it goes without saying that my friends who surf and scuba dive around here are not particularly pleased with this development. Sharks don't bother them but squid do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrapeApe Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Sharks don't bother them but squid do? Really. I thought northern California was a prime location for great white attacks? Don't these squid live in very deep regions? Locations not likely to be seen by your weekend scuba diver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlipper Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 I caught some a few years back on every cast..The deck of the boat looked like an ink factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted July 25, 2007 Share Posted July 25, 2007 Mmmmm, fried calamari. Thats my first thought,not much of a fish eater ...but calamari? Mmmm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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