Nominees sought for giant octopus advisory group

Members are being sought for a octopus advisory group formed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The group was made in response to the legal harvest of giant Pacific octopus in Seattle last October, according to a WDFW news release.

Up to 12 people will be picked for the advisory group to develop recommendations for protecting the octopus throughout the Puget Sound, meeting periodically through the end of August.

The new harvesting rules state divers can legally get one octopus per day.

The advisory group will be asked to develop recommendations, including to close all of Puget Sound to recreational harvest of giant Pacific octopus, close popular dive sites to the harvest of the octopus or any species or to take on action at all.

Nominations to serve must be sent to WDFW by Feb. 15 by submitting them to Craig Burley by mail at Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501 or by email at Craig.Burley@wdfw.wa.gov.

Nominations must include name, address, telephone number and email address, relevant experience and reasons for wanting to serve as a member of the group, effectiveness in communication and contact information for any individual or organization submitting the nomination.

For information, contact Burley at 360-902-2784.