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Aug. 26, 2004
David Sneed, San Luis Obispo Tribune
State plan for no-fish zone is topic in Morro Bay
Central Coast is targeted as the first area to have a string of reserves where fishing is banned or restricted; framework is due by March 2006 a string of reserves where fishing is banned or restricted; framework is due by March 2006
MORRO BAY - The state's two top resource managers will unveil plans to revive a stalled program meant to protect certain areas of the Pacific Ocean just off the coast when the Fish and Game Commission meets Friday in Morro Bay.
Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman and Ryan Broddrick, director of the state Department of Fish and Game, will discuss how a string of reserves -- in which fishing is banned or restricted -- will be established along the state's 1,100-mile coastline.
The Central Coast is targeted as the first area to have such reserves. A framework for the areas, including maps showing their locations, is due by March 2006. A statewide plan is due in 2011.
The marine reserves proposal on tap for Friday is part of a two-day meeting the commission will hold in Morro Bay, starting today. Other items on the agenda include discussions of catch limits for cabezon, a popular bottom-dwelling fish, and proposed recreational groundfishing rules for 2005 and 2006.
Fishing reserves were first mandated in 1999 by the state Marine Life Protection Act, but the process stalled eight months ago because of a lack of funds.
The state is now proposing to join with nonprofit groups to fund their creation, said Mike Wintemute, Fish and Game deputy director.
"We are looking to leverage public money with foundation money," he said.
The Resources Legacy Foundation will provide $2 million with the state providing $500,000 to finance the first year of the program.
This public-private partnership is similar to a plan introduced earlier this year by state water officials to use settlement money from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Resources Legacy Foundation grants to finance a marine reserve network on the Central Coast. A settlement over the damage caused by the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant to the ocean is pending between the utility and the state.
The purpose of reserves is to shift management of marine resources from a species-by-species basis to one that emphasizes preserving habitats, Wintemute said. Some of the reserves will be set up as no-fishing zones, while others might allow recreational fishing or scientific collecting.
"What we are trying to do is develop a long-term plan that will let us manage habitats that contain a wide array of species," he said.
Conservationists liken marine reserves to ocean wildlife refuges and say they are the best way to protect the coastline from fishing, pollution and habitat destruction.
Fishermen oppose reserves, saying the science meant to justify them is unproven and that fishing is already heavily regulated.
Steve Moore, the owner of Patriot Sportfishing in Port San Luis, is disappointed in the state's decision to revive the reserves program.
He had hoped that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would put a stop to the idea. He is particularly critical of the use of money from conservation groups.
"I believe taking money from special interest groups to make the process go forward is wrong," he said. "I don't think you can have an unbiased decision when you are taking money from someone who definitely has an agenda."
Wintemute said the department is deliberately taking a go-slow approach to creating the reserves.
Previously, the department was criticized for not taking enough public comment before it drew up maps showing proposed reserve locations.
This time, the agency will appoint a blue-ribbon panel to oversee the process along with a 25-member science advisory group. These groups will draw up a new set of reserves.
"We are not interested in rushing anything here," Wintemute said. "We want to make sure the public has access to the best science, perspective and information."
David Sneed, San Luis Obispo Tribune
State plan for no-fish zone is topic in Morro Bay
Central Coast is targeted as the first area to have a string of reserves where fishing is banned or restricted; framework is due by March 2006 a string of reserves where fishing is banned or restricted; framework is due by March 2006
MORRO BAY - The state's two top resource managers will unveil plans to revive a stalled program meant to protect certain areas of the Pacific Ocean just off the coast when the Fish and Game Commission meets Friday in Morro Bay.
Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman and Ryan Broddrick, director of the state Department of Fish and Game, will discuss how a string of reserves -- in which fishing is banned or restricted -- will be established along the state's 1,100-mile coastline.
The Central Coast is targeted as the first area to have such reserves. A framework for the areas, including maps showing their locations, is due by March 2006. A statewide plan is due in 2011.
The marine reserves proposal on tap for Friday is part of a two-day meeting the commission will hold in Morro Bay, starting today. Other items on the agenda include discussions of catch limits for cabezon, a popular bottom-dwelling fish, and proposed recreational groundfishing rules for 2005 and 2006.
Fishing reserves were first mandated in 1999 by the state Marine Life Protection Act, but the process stalled eight months ago because of a lack of funds.
The state is now proposing to join with nonprofit groups to fund their creation, said Mike Wintemute, Fish and Game deputy director.
"We are looking to leverage public money with foundation money," he said.
The Resources Legacy Foundation will provide $2 million with the state providing $500,000 to finance the first year of the program.
This public-private partnership is similar to a plan introduced earlier this year by state water officials to use settlement money from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and Resources Legacy Foundation grants to finance a marine reserve network on the Central Coast. A settlement over the damage caused by the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant to the ocean is pending between the utility and the state.
The purpose of reserves is to shift management of marine resources from a species-by-species basis to one that emphasizes preserving habitats, Wintemute said. Some of the reserves will be set up as no-fishing zones, while others might allow recreational fishing or scientific collecting.
"What we are trying to do is develop a long-term plan that will let us manage habitats that contain a wide array of species," he said.
Conservationists liken marine reserves to ocean wildlife refuges and say they are the best way to protect the coastline from fishing, pollution and habitat destruction.
Fishermen oppose reserves, saying the science meant to justify them is unproven and that fishing is already heavily regulated.
Steve Moore, the owner of Patriot Sportfishing in Port San Luis, is disappointed in the state's decision to revive the reserves program.
He had hoped that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would put a stop to the idea. He is particularly critical of the use of money from conservation groups.
"I believe taking money from special interest groups to make the process go forward is wrong," he said. "I don't think you can have an unbiased decision when you are taking money from someone who definitely has an agenda."
Wintemute said the department is deliberately taking a go-slow approach to creating the reserves.
Previously, the department was criticized for not taking enough public comment before it drew up maps showing proposed reserve locations.
This time, the agency will appoint a blue-ribbon panel to oversee the process along with a 25-member science advisory group. These groups will draw up a new set of reserves.
"We are not interested in rushing anything here," Wintemute said. "We want to make sure the public has access to the best science, perspective and information."
