Local Diver Battling Invasion of Giant African Moon Snails
Posted by Moon Snail Master on 2/10/2012, 3:35 pm
Local Diver Battling Invasion of Giant African Moon Snails
No one knows how they got there. But an invasion of African Giant Moon Snails has coastal New Jersey residents in a panic over potential damage, disease and general yuckiness surrounding the slimy gastropods.
The US and NJ Departments of Agriculture have mobilized 34 agents to battle the infestation and the US Fish & Wildlife Service is heading up an investigation into how the mollusks -- which can be up to 20 centimeters (eight inches) long -- arrived.
"This is a big snail, a very big snail," says very well-known diver Bart Major, as he probes one of the shells with a tool-dipped & duct taped, gloved hand.
"No it's not empty, see... eeew. It's very heavy, you can tell the snail is still in there...LOLOLOLOL"
"We've been told that they like to eat the discarded fishing sinkers left on the local shipwrecks, and the lead helps to build their shells."
The Harryannas Maischus, or Giant African Moon Snail, can live up to nine years, and are very physically fit and prolific in reproduction, laying up to 1,200 eggs a year, making it extremely invasive. A single snail can create a mass that invades an entire shipwreck.
Local boat owner, Capt. Jim Wilson, discovered large piles of snail excrement on the transom of his dive boat, Gypsy Blood, and ended up collecting 583 of the mollusks in a week, finding them on his bow, on his deck and even stuck in his marine head after they apparently had sniffed out lead that had been recently been brought aboard by a diver. During Wilson's story, the spandex-clad Major's eyes strangely darted nervously from side to side.
State authorities say they have captured 35,000 since the invasion began in September. But the concern is not simply a question of aesthetics: The snail's mucus can contain a parasite which transmits a form of meningitis, which is not lethal but can provoke extreme abdominal pain.
The pest is also a threat to local boat owners, feasting on the zincs attached to the hulls of their boats.
"If they were to become established, it could devastate New Jersey's sinker salvage industry," said Major, who noted that the salvage of lead sinkers is second only to diving for lobsters and scallops for the state's economy.
It's not clear how the world's largest snail species arrived in New Jersey. Originally from East Africa, they have also been found in Caribbean islands including Guadeloupe and Martinique.
This is not the first invasion for New Jersey. In 1966, a boy named Bart imported three giant snails as pets, and his grandmother released them into the wild, which led to a colony of 18,000. The eradication effort took nine years and cost over one million dollars.
Importation of these animals is illegal in the United States without a federal permit. But officials point out they are used in certain Afro-Caribbean religious practices.
It's not clear if the snails were brought over for religious ceremonies or as pets and got "out of control."
The eradication effort is in full force even though the snails are in a sort of hibernation during which they dig themselves into the sand, making them less visible.
Authorities are hoping to bring down the population before the spring, which could cause a population surge. Officials say the areas being cleaned up will remain under scrutiny for several months.
The captured gastropods are taken to a lab where specialists examine them and, ultimately, kill them off. The snails are effectively drowned in an alcohol solution. Or scientists toss them in the freezer to ensure they are dead. But one local diver/businessman has even come up with an alternative to just throwing them away by sprinkling them with some Garlic Serrano Spicy Diver hot sauce.
Re: Local Diver Battling Invasion of Giant African Moon Snails
what’s the dealio? - A few smart crew guys made up this story about me
Of course everyone knows Moon Snails can’t eat lead, WHAT they could be used for is a selective breeding project that would enhance the species size to that of basketballs.
Combining their incredibly rapid reproductive rate with a genetically altered accelerated growth rate, I have calculated that within 15 years, we would be harvesting more than enough snail to feed the hungry of this country.
Five more years after that there would be no more hunger in this hemisphere.
Think about the possibilities…. Now take these genetically enhanced GIANT SNAILS and Give them to poor, (that’s right Jim, GIVE them), of the world where hunger and poverty are still part of their daily lives. Let the poor grow them in the warm algae filled pools of aquaculture and soon the hungry would be fed!!!! Taking this idea and bringing it to the third world would end world hunger as we know it!!!!!!
Imagine that……
Of course there are those that say it can not be done, those that don’t believe in Giving things away, those that don’t want to see world hunger end, those who sole existence is to stand on top of backs of those less fortunate than themselves and tell everyone within earshot that they are the ONES who know best.. Those that have laughed at and tossed aside the dreams of the Bartman from the very start…(long silence for effect)…
The Bartman says ENOUGH!!!!!!!!! Those that do not believe will no longer have their way!!!!!!!……..
The Moon Snail can and will rid this planet of hunger once and for all!! They will free the world from the chains of hunger and starvation. the Moon Snail IS the symbol of Freedom, not only of the Jersey shore, but to the entire impoverished world as we know it!
Bart is a friend of mine but I have to admit to seeing him release some "moon snails" looking things into the water around the Delaware a few years ago. I asked him about it and he stated "I didn't release no stinking snails". I will let the readers judge for themselves.
Disclaimer of Liability: The materials on the NJ Scuba Divers Message Board web site are provided to you free of charge, "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL NJ SCUBA DIVERS MESSAGE BOARD OR BOARDHOST.COM BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES OR DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, USE, OR DATA WHETHER BROUGHT IN CONTRACT OR TORT, ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED WITH ANY NJ SCUBA DIVERS MESSAGE BOARD POST OR BOARDHOST.COM WEB SITE OR THE USE, RELIANCE UPON OR PERFORMANCE OF ANY MATERIAL CONTAINED IN OR ACCESSED FROM ANY NJ SCUBA DIVERS MESSAGE BOARD POST OR BOARDHOST.COM WEB SITE.
Link Disclaimer: We provide links to web sites operated by other parties. The links are provided for your convenience only. The presence of a link does not imply any endorsement of the material on the web sites or any association with the web site's operators. We do not operate, control or endorse any information, products or services provided by third parties through the Internet. We are not responsible for the content and performance of these sites. Use of linked sites is strictly at your own risk including any risks associated with destructive viruses.
If you like this website, and would like to give something in return, you can make a donation Your donation will be used to pay for domain & maintenance costs ONLY! Click the PayPal Donate button below....THANK YOU!