The Mendocino Abalone Watch is a volunteer citizens’ nonprofit association established to provide additional “eyes and ears” for the California Department of Fish & Game. MAW’s purpose is to enhance regulatory enforcement and protection of the abalone resource along the Mendocino Coast. MAW has been designated a Special Project of the Mendocino Endowment for Environmental Advocacy.
Functions:
- Observe diving activity, emphasizing Fort Bragg and Mendocino areas
- Report suspicious taking of abalone to DFG wardens
- Record observations for use by DFG
- Be visible at key locations to discourage or deter poachers
- Be visible so as to encourage compliance with the law
- Offer diver education about regulations and penalties
- Watch for unsafe diving situations and alert divers or others
- Insure fair-handed enforcement by DFG
Volunteers work in pairs, once a month in a three-hour weekday or weekend shift, equipped with highly-visible jackets, caps, vehicle signage, binoculars, camera or video-recorder, and cell phone or two-way radio.
Volunteers are trained by DFG in terms of forms of suspicious taking, methods of observing/recording/reporting, and applicable regulations. Volunteers are selected based on equanimity, intelligence, aptitude, completed training and lack of conflict of interest. All volunteers certify in writing that they participate without a conflict of interest and in support of resource regulation by DFG.
MAW was formed by five individuals from diverse backgrounds – defense attorney, professional diving instructor, hair stylist, English teacher, and landscaper. Some had diving experience, others did not. They were brought together out of a desire to do something beyond being upset about abalone poaching.