Divers set to clean coasts

The University of California plans a huge offshore cleanup to rid the coast of abandoned and lost fishing gear that threatens marine life, boaters and divers.

Monofilament line, nets, crab pots and other debris lasts for years underwater. It endangers fish, seals and sea lions and washes up on beaches.

Using a $300,000 grant from the state Coastal Commission, the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center plans to dispatch divers in September to survey the junk and explore methods to remove it from the Channel Islands to Oregon.

UC Davis officials say similar efforts in Washington and Hawaii removed hundreds of tons of debris.

-- Hugo Martin