'Seal Bombs' May Be Stored in Watsonville

Del Mar Seafoods wants to store explosive pest control devices at its Watsonville location, an issue the Watsonville Planning Commission will take up at its meeting Tuesday evening.

The seafood company's main processing and distribution is at 555 Walker St. in Watsonville. The explosives, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, require a special permit to store.

City staff is recommending the Planning Commission allow Del Mar Seafoods to keep the firecracker-like explosives in a "Type 4 magazine" which would be built on the company's property and be monitored by extra security, including video surveillance.

The devices, known colloquially as "bird bombs" or "seal bombs" are used to help protect crops, natural resources and aircraft from wildlife damage. Del Mar Foods uses them to scare seals away from fishing nets.

In other business, the Planning Commission will:

• decide if Carrie McCoid, the owner of , can move her business from Aviation Way to a larger facility on Anna Street.
• consider an application for a design review permit for the construction of two 20,000-square-foot buildings at 398 Technology Dr. The buildings would be offices and medical facilities.

The Watsonville Planning Commission meets at 6 p.m. in the Watsonville City Council Chambers, fourth floor of 275 Main St.