Laguna Beach Independent

Editor,

There’s a false claim from some in the fishing community that “there’s no science” and that marine protection needs to “be studied more”. Scientists have, in fact, studied this situation extensively, and have proposed remedies including the Marine Protected Areas as part of the Marine Life Preservation Act. Do we need to study until our fish populations are nearly extinct and their populations can hardly recover – like the abalone, like the striped marlin, and like the giant sea bass? California’s nearshore fishery landings (commercial and recreational marine harvest recorded, shoreline to 20 fathoms depth) has declined precipitously from approximately 4,000 metric tons in 1980 to approximately 1,000 metric tons in 2000 (Schroeder and Love, UCSB, 2002), despite stricter regulations. Commercial fishing is still outpaced by the recreational fishermen who take approximately 60% of the total nearshore catch. Although “catch and release” has been suggested, this has been proven to be ineffectual as it still results in fish mortality and “may perilously delay population recovery or even cause local extinction.”

Why Reserve all of Laguna? The design and implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) under the MLPA is being guided by 19 of California’s top university marine scientists, the Scientific Advisory Team (SAT, http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/scsat.asp). The SAT members are experts in marine biology, fishery management, marine modeling, water quality, economic impacts, etc. They have already reviewed all the scientific studies and agree that this Marine Protection law is necessary and must be implemented in order to save California’s marine ecosystems. Specific to Laguna, the SAT has rejected the fishing lobby’s proposals for very small reserves here. For the success of a state-wide network of MPAs, which protect the entire range of species from invertebrates, to rockfish, to pelagic species, not just specific fish, each type of marine ecosystem is needed (rocky reefs, intertidal zones, sandy or soft ocean bottoms, underwater pinnacles, sea mounts, kelp forests, submarine canyons, and seagrass beds) and the larger “set” of MPAs has to be designed to work as a network so that they support each other through larval transport (this is why the spacing guideline of no more than 60 miles apart). Laguna Beach (actually from Little Corona Del Mar to the Dana Point Headlands) is the only place between Palos Verdes and La Jolla Cove where all of those ecosystems exist. All of these habitats are important and they all come together in Laguna Beach. That is why even the fishermen agree a reserve belongs here!

A total ecosystem approach is needed because “sustainability” for one species does not mean sustainability for all species. For example, when the larger lobsters and sheephead are harvested, they don’t then feed on the urchins, which then overpopulate and eat up the kelp forests. It is the kelp forests that serve as the nurseries for the small fish. So that’s why an extensive reserve along Laguna’s coastline is needed for California’s system of marine life protection.

How wonderful that our City Council is supporting this important effort to allow the marine life to recover.
Barbara Picheny
Laguna Beach

Editor,

Every year there are more and more people taking from the marine environment. They are fishing from boats, the rocks and the beach. The number of people spearfishing has increased exponentially in recent years to the point of being a public safety hazard at times. When swimming or snorkeling on busy days, one has to be constantly vigilant for people swimming nearby with lethal weapons. On one occasion I narrowly avoided being speared by a careless spearfisherman. At times I feel like I need to be wearing a bright orange wetsuit. There is a reason that people don’t go hiking in hunting season. In the waters off Laguna, it is hunting season every day. Frequently I find illegally speared animals, including garibaldi, leopard sharks, sting rays, and even a sheep crab. This is not the experience that I am seeking when I swim and snorkle in the ocean.

Partly for this reason, one of my favorite places to snorkle is the Heisler Park Marine Reserve. The difference between the habitat in this no-take reserve versus some of the other nearby coves is dramatic. The rocks are covered with kelp and coralline algae and there is a striking lack of urchins. The fish are more abundant and larger. I routinely see fish species within the reserve that I rarely see outside the reserve.