October 14, 1999-- This October, the Abalone Restoration Consortium, a group of university, government and private biologists, will set out in a two-person submersible to search the sea floor around the Channel Islands National Park for white abalone, a rare marine snail and the first marine invertebrate requested for listing as endangered. If their forays are successful in finding any of these vanishing creatures, the scientists will attempt to develop a captive breeding program similar to what has been used to replenish imperiled terrestrial species. At present, only one white abalone is in captivity; that abalone, nicknamed Abigail before its sex was determined, is a male.

When: October 19, 1999. Must register in advance for a time slot. Time choices:

• 8:30 a.m., returning to Catalina Island (Avalon) approximately 11 a.m.
• 11 a.m., returning back to Catalina Island approximately 2:30 p.m.
• 2:30 p.m., returning back to Catalina Island around 6 p.m.

What: Scientists will be available for interviews on the research vessel, reached by a short water-taxi ride. Researchers will be making hour-long trips in a submersible to the sea floor to search for and map remaining white abalones. On board the ship, scientists involved in this federal, state, local and nongovernmental effort will be available for interviews.

Note to news editors: B-roll available.

Why: An opportunity to see, first-hand, the beginning of this effort to restore the white abalone population to California's marine environment and to interview the primary researchers involved in this effort to find, map and begin a captive-breeding population of these rare abalone. Scientists manning the submersible will bring video back up to the research vessel to view and to record data on habitat type, presence of abalone and associated animals and abalone food availability so that they will have a better understanding of suitable white abalone habitat for future restoration efforts.

Where: Meet at the exit ramp from the Catalina Express on Catalina Island (at Avalon). For 8:30 a.m. trip, meet at 8 a..m.; for 11 a.m. trip, meet at 10:30; for 2:30 p.m. trip, meet at 2 p.m. We will make a short walk to the water taxi, which will take us out to the research vessel (a 3- to 20-minute each-way ride depending on the location of the vessel).

Note: Reporters need to make advance reservations with Catalina Express to ferry (or to take a helicopter) over to Avalon/Catalina Island in time to make your time slot for the taxi out to the research vessel. Catalina Express (call 1-800-618-5533) ferries people from Long Beach over to Catalina Island/Avalon. See attached information for arrival and departure schedule for Catalina Express.

Who: Hosted by U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish and Game, University of California at Santa Barbara, Channel Islands Marine Research Institute, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

As the nation's largest water, earth and biological science and civilian mapping agency, the USGS works in cooperation with more than 2000 organizations across the country to provide reliable, impartial, scientific information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. This information is gathered in every state by USGS scientists to minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters, contribute to the sound conservation, economic and physical development of the nation's natural resources, and enhance the quality of life by monitoring water, biological, energy and mineral resources.

Contact Information:

Catherine Haecker
[email protected]
707-826-5645, if calling on October 19th use cell phone: 805-451-2403

Kevin Lafferty
[email protected]
805-893-8778, if calling on October 19th call cell phone: 805-451-2403

Dale Cox
[email protected]
916-997-4209

This press release and in-depth information about USGS programs may be found on the USGS home page: http://www.usgs.gov. To receive the latest USGS news releases automatically by email, send a request to [email protected]. Specify the listserver(s) of interest from the following names: water-pr: geologic-hazards-pr; biological-pr; mapping-pr; products-pr; lecture-pr. In the body of the message write: subscribe (name of listserver) (your name). Example: subscribe water-pr joe smith.

Please note these logistical items:

• Reporters need to make advance reservations with Catalina Express to ferry over to Avalon/Catlina Island in time to make your time slot for the taxi out to the research vessel. Catalina Express (call 1-800-618-5533) ferries people from Long Beach to Catalina Island/Avalon. See attached information for arrival and departure schedule for Catalina Express.

• If you are planning on staying overnight, you are highly encouraged to call in advance the Avalon Chamber of Commerce for hotel reservations (310-510-1520). Make sure you ask for a hotel in walking distance of the Catalina Express station.

• If you are flying into LAX, you can take either the LAX Supershuttle (310-782-6600) or the Express Shuttle (1-800-606-7433) to the ferry station at Long Beach (Queen Mary Parking Lot). Advance reservations encouraged.

• Television: Bring field (portable) cameras only; large studio cameras will be impossible to transfer from the water taxi to the research vessel.

• Dress in comfortable boating clothes and shoes; bring a jacket, hat, and sunscreen.

• If you are on the mid-day trip, please bring a sack lunch. Otherwise, snacks and drinks are encouraged. Water and coffee available on ship.

• Be prepared for open ocean conditions; you must have the physical ability to transfer from a small vessel to a large vessel while at sea.

http://www.catalinaexpress.com/
1-800-805-9201, reservations taken from 6 am to 8 pm daily.

Departs:Long Beach and San Pedro.

Length of trip: one hour on most of their boats, one and a halfhours on the oldest ones.

Fares:

• $19.00 one way
• $38.00 round trip for adults
• Seniors are $17.25/$34.50
• Kids 2-11 are $14.25/$28.50
• Infants $1/$2

Restrictions:

• Check in one hour before departure
• 70 lbs. baggage per person,4 bags allowed.
• $3 charge for bicycles and surfboards one way, $6.00 round trip.
• Dogs must be muzzled.

Fun value: Comfortable airline-style seats, hostess will bring cocktails. The Long Beach boat docks next to the Queen Mary and its Mega-Bungee Jumping tower, which can keep you in suspense while you wait to board. You can rent an upstairs lounge for $40 if you want to party privately.

Parking: at Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point the cost varies between $6-9 for 24 hours. Boats are open air, with an attendant on duty.

Schedule: Catalina Express: from Long Beach to Avalon Departure from Long Beach. Go to Queen Mary parking lot. Tickets must be in hand 30 minutes in advance of sailing.

Schedule for Catalina Express from Long Beach to Avalon/Catalina Island for Monday October 18 and Tuesday October 19

Departs Long Beach    Arrives Avalon/Catalina Island

6:15 a.m.                       7:15 a.m.
8:45 a.m.                       10 a.m.
10:15 a.m.                     11:15 a.m.
12:30 a.m.                     1:45 p.m.
2:15 p.m.                       3:15 p.m.
4:15 p.m.                       5:30 p.m.
5:45 p.m.                       6:45 p.m.

Schedule From Avalon/Catalina Island to Long Beach for Tuesday October 19

Departs Avalon/          Arrives Long Beach
Catalina Island

10:30 a.m.                     11:45 a.m.
12:00 p.m.                     2:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.                       6 p.m.
7:30 p.m.                       8:30 p.m.