After controversial kill, Wash. considers ban on octopus hunting
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SEATTLE -- A controversial kill has prompted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to consider a ban on octopus hunting at West Seattle's Seacrest Park.
Under the current law, divers can legally take one octopus from the water each day. That's exactly what diver Dylan Mayer did last week, but the 19-year-old had no idea his hunt would cause so much controversy.
Angry divers took photos of Mayer holding the octopus and shared them online, and since then Mayer said he's received dozens of threatening phone calls and hate-filled emails.
Bob Baily has seen a lot, but he's never seen the diving community come together like it did in the past week.
"We're looking at laws right now that have been on the books for about forty years and no one's ever thought to reexamine those laws because up until now it's never been an issue," Baily said.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is now trying to come up with a plan to preserve octopus in the area. Officials are considering banning octopus hunting throughout the state or designating Seacrest Park as a marine protected area.
At a Thursday Fish and Wildlife meeting, Mayor admitted his kill was a mistake and said he supports a ban
"I did not know that that place was so loved by the divers, otherwise I wouldn't have done it," he said.
Five thousand divers signed an online petition supporting a ban at the park, which attracts divers from around the world.
Fish and Wildlife is planning to hold meetings this winter so the public can weigh in on the options.
Under the current law, divers can legally take one octopus from the water each day. That's exactly what diver Dylan Mayer did last week, but the 19-year-old had no idea his hunt would cause so much controversy.
Angry divers took photos of Mayer holding the octopus and shared them online, and since then Mayer said he's received dozens of threatening phone calls and hate-filled emails.
Bob Baily has seen a lot, but he's never seen the diving community come together like it did in the past week.
"We're looking at laws right now that have been on the books for about forty years and no one's ever thought to reexamine those laws because up until now it's never been an issue," Baily said.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife is now trying to come up with a plan to preserve octopus in the area. Officials are considering banning octopus hunting throughout the state or designating Seacrest Park as a marine protected area.
At a Thursday Fish and Wildlife meeting, Mayor admitted his kill was a mistake and said he supports a ban
"I did not know that that place was so loved by the divers, otherwise I wouldn't have done it," he said.
Five thousand divers signed an online petition supporting a ban at the park, which attracts divers from around the world.
Fish and Wildlife is planning to hold meetings this winter so the public can weigh in on the options.
Octopus in LOVE!
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 OCTOPUS!!!!
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how about just 1 year. stop letting the city foke ban everything
 @iamright555 Boooooooooooo
Dylan Mayer looks like he doesn't have a whole lot going on upstairs. I bet that octopus was smarter than him.
The question is not that he took the octopus, it's how he did it and what he did with it.
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The abuse of ANY creature simply to satisfy one's own perverted desire to inflict harm is wrong.
 @Mikey yea, I can't imagine that they ate that octupus and it was just killed for the sake of killing it, which seems rather dumb. Killing animals is fine if your intent is to eat them or use them for something, but just for the sake of a photo and story is a bit ridiculous.
 @Mikey octo..
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The WDFW took inputs from the dive community and are seriously considering changes to laws that are outdated. They acted quickly and I hope this incident will drive more protections for Washington's amazing dive locations. If you don't dive, it might be hard to understand the beauty that can be quickly harvested and diminished without underwater preserves. Hunting and collecting are fine - they have their place just as they do on land. But in the same way, some areas need to be off limits so nature can be enjoyed by all, for all time.Â
 @Gooch My Idea of "hunting" is eat what you kill.And only take as much as your family needs to survive.
 @lee986321 Large GPO's (giant pacific octopus) are like eating a rubber tire. They mostly aren't hunted in this area. The man who legally harvested that octo even spoke at the WDFW meeting in favor of creating a "no-take" zone there and has certainly learned and grown a lot from the experience
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 @Gooch  @lee986321 Well ,good. I would hope he learned a lot and will become a wildlife preserve backer forever.
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 @fracas NO animals EVER need to be KILLED just to be wasted as stupid and incredibly selfish, cruel "ART" PROJECTS!! OMG!!! Kind of like when the Nazis made lampshades out of human skin from Jews they had killed.
Following Laws is not the same as being a morally sound and respectful. We have to keep reconsidering the consequences of our vices and how to govern them properly or we'll become slaves to our ignorance.
So the kid legally harvested a large octopus. Good for him. What's the problem? It's no different than legally harvesting any other animal. Welcome to the liberal's world, Dylan, where the life of one octopus is seen as equal to your own life, i.e. the death threats. You did nothing wrong and have nothing to be ashamed of.
 @Finally What a dork. Yes, he did do something wrong and should be ashamed of himself, but I bet he's not.
Legalities and Moral Fortitude are two seperate entities. This was legal, yes - was it done in a morally sound manner, and with respect to the animal and public of whom witnessed, no.
 @OliverNicholas So you're one of those people who wants the Government to dictate to us what's moral and what's not. Correct?
@NiKnowZ No, Society will.Â
 @NiKnowZ Most people know what is and is not moral. It doesn't require, nor should it, legislation to make that determination. Usually when one is found who considers harming animals to be a thrill, psychologists warn of a very real potential for that desire to elevate to harming humans.
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If Dylan Mayer was actually going to use the octopus for a legitimate purpose, such as eating it, then no harm, no foul. But to remove the creature from its habitat, inflict harm upon it and toss it aside beg the questioning of his morality AND his reasoning ability.
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Sometimes the stupidity of one forces the government to over-react for the protection of all, even if it is a bit overkill.
They are an invasive species that is why they are for the taking. Maybe Washington needs to put the bong down and not give in to these idiots.
 @Ol'Fish 9 points = a smelly TROLL!
 @Ol'Fish Who's the idiot? You are full of crap!
 @Ol'Fish Oh, and they capture and feed on sharks, too.
 @Ol'Fish No. It's not an invasive species.
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Giant Pacific Octopus Fast Facts
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Range: North Pacific Ocean, in nearshore waters up to 2,500 feet deep
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Size: The giant Pacific octopus is the largest octopus species. Typical weights for a full-grown giant
Pacific octopus range from 70 to 110 pounds. Most are less than 16 feet across from arm tip to arm tip.
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Diet: Shellfish such as crabs, clams, abalone, and shrimp; fish
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Life span: From three to five years
@Ol'Fish The North Pacific giant ooctopus is not an invasive species - it is native to the Pacific Northwest.Â
whine whine whine. get over it. I hope he ate it. THey are good eating