No Take Fishing Zone forming along Palos Verdes?

[shoupart]

Hi,

I have been reading a lot of posts on Spearboard.com about marine protection closures along most of the Palos Verdes coast and some other areas.

There hasn't been as much word on this elsewhere but I wanted to spread the news among others who might be concerned or impacted with such a giant, mass closure, making a lot of the coast off-limits, into a huge no-take zone.

While I like the idea of protecting parts of the ocean, especially against commercial overfishing, the proposed plan seems to go WAY overboard.

If anybody cares to read more or sign petitions against the proposals, check out this website: Home

 

[drbill]

Have you checked the various MPA proposals on the Calif Dept of Fish & Game website? They will at least show you what has been proposed. Until the scientific advisory group reviews the proposals and data and makes recommendations to the actual "deciders" (which, fortunately do not include George W.) the actual locations of the reserves deemed most suitable won't be known.

Of course it is good for stakeholders to voice their opinions.

However, the process is supposed to be based on the best possible science (as stated in the law itself).

If you haven't already done so, you may want to read my newspaper columns on no-take marine reserves... see #328, #329 and #330. These deal primarily with Catalina as I do not have sufficient first-hand information about mainland sites to render an informed opinion.

 

[shoupart]

That is good to know that nothing has been decided and that there are several options being considered.

My purpose in starting this thread was to publicize what's going on, and hopefully get more people aware of it and involved... What would bother me most is for something drastic to happen, and for so few of us to be aware and never had the chance to speak up or have some say.

I just hope that more of the dive community gets involved in it and speaks up. If they're for fishing or against it, I don't really mind, as long as we are heard.

 

[shoupart]

Hi Dr. Bill!
Thanks for the links to your articles. I agree with a lot of the points you make, and I agree that our marine life definitely needs some protected reserves and no-take areas.

But as a fisherman, I'm recoiling at the thought of a huge chunk of Palos Verdes becoming off-limits... Hopefully that's an unlikely and extreme scenario... but on the other hand, it would create a fantastic ecosystem.

by the way, I didn't know you'd studied under E.O. Wilson- very cool!

 

[shoupart]

One more thing: Here's the link to the DFG site with various proposals. Have a look at some of the possibilities: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/agenda_030309n6ii.pdf

 

[White Knight]

Looked at the map on your link. I dive most of the coastal areas suggested for closure. It appears that every single reef is on the list. Just empty areas of mud waste land is left. I hope the “decision” makers realize this.

 

[Codyjp]

I'm actually surprised at how little is proposed to be protected. Either way I really appreciate this work and hope that it gets through. I think it will be better for all of us involved to have protected areas for our fish to reproduce. There have been great successes in New Zealand with these types of projects.

 

[Dyno Bill]

I started out years ago owning my own boat kept in King Harbor and enjoying both pole fishing as well as spear fishing. Over a period of years I just hunted free diving, wasn't nearly as successful but somehow it seemed a lot more satisfying. Now days I don't live at the coast any more so I might get wet a half dozen times a year. It seems like closing most of the productive spots to everyone is a bit much but who knows. Perhaps closing the entire fishing industry in So Cal is the answer. I guess the courts will end up deciding, I guess I can just buy the half dozen fish that I may have taken this year at the market.
Bill

 

[DwayneJ]

Looks like someone is proposing a fishing ban from Redondo Beach all the way to Marine Land which is pretty extensive.

 

[Codyjp]

Looks like someone is proposing a fishing ban from Redondo Beach all the way to Marine Land which is pretty extensive.

Nearly as extensive as the area from Point Vicente eastward.