Comments on: Marine Protections to Take Effect Oct. 1

By: ConcernedAboutTheUneducated

ConcernedAboutTheUneducated — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:53:18 +0000

LagunaSwimChic, you are wrong. There are not nearly enough resources to monitor the mlpa closures. In fact, most people I talk to haven’t even heard about the ban. Furthermore, there are certain gps coordinates that map out exactly where the new mlpa areas are. So how are you going to be able to figure if a person is fishing within that area, or just 20′ outside of it?
I’m all for putting guide lines in to protect our oceans and coastline, but this one is ridiculous. First, it’s unenforceable. They vote to impose the new law on Oct 1st, opening for lobster season. Probably 80% of divers and hoop netters don’t even know about the new law. Wouldn’t it have made sense to impose the law sooner so people know what’s actually going on? Seems like a way for the state (and Laguna Beach) to try and write tickets to make some extra revenue. Second, the real problem is the commercial fishing, not the occasional sport fisher or local resident who wants to dive for a bug legally.
The pendulum has swung way to far the other way, creating an unenforceable situation and taking away the rights from those of us that have fished and spearfished by the laws for years.
One more note: The new mlpa is still in litigation and will be fought vigorously. A slimmed down variation of the mapped out area should be the result. Not a total ban. This is just like “black ball” for surfers in Newport in the Summer.

By: LagunaSwimChic

LagunaSwimChic — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:00:44 +0000

Protection of our new Marine Reserves and enforcement of the Fish and Game regulations will be easier than people would think. In addition to our Marine Protection Officer, we have lifeguards, animal control officers and even the police that can write tickets. We have substantial community resources to aid enforcement officials like Laguna Ocean Foundation’s Tidewater docents and educators. Finally, the general public can easily understand the meaning of “No Take” and can alert enforcement officials when necessary. We no longer have to remember all the different fish you can or can’t take and what size they have to be or whether it is the right season- it’s simple, No-Take of any species.
I look forward to the new Laguna State Marine Reserve and think it will bring restoration of the marine habitat and an increase in the local eco-tourism industry.

By: Scapegoat

Scapegoat — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:08:32 +0000

The real problem is that the DFG never properly regulated our fisheries, and then freaked out when their inept policies didn’t work out as well as they had hoped. Look at our abalone fisheries, DFG let those fisheries collapse under their watch in the 60′s and 70′s and then “recently” closed the whole fishery in southern California. By that time, a disease wrecked havoc on any of the natural stock we had left and long story short, no abalone. In this case, they punished the commercial and sport fishermen for decades of their own short comings. It’s like punishing your pets because they ate the grilled cheese sandwich you carelessly left on the coffee table. Ironically, I believe our local lobster fishery was totally sustainable. I’m not a commercial fisherman but I am a biologist, have worked in aquaculture, and have surf fished in Laguna since I was a kid. I’m totally bummed that I won’t be able to surf fish in Laguna again, especially when I always practiced catch and release. One more resource closed to everyone. I’m glad I can still fish on the beach in my town, for now.

By: Just Curious

Just Curious — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:16:42 +0000

Mr. Handy,

Glad to know YOU own YOUR OWN piece of the beach. However, do YOU own the ocean as well? And have you ever met/addressed any commercial fisherman? Your opinion of commercial fisherman is based on what specifically? I’m very interested to know how you come up with such a description. All professions have their share of degenerates. Perhaps you should consider doing some homework before you cast stones. And I’m just a person who enjoys the beach, the ocean, and a good plate of seafood. Have you excluded such fare that these “lowlife” commercial fishermen catch from your menu, or do you continue to enjoy the ocean’s riches while you complain about those who harvest that which you choose to eat? Pollution is the bigger enemy here, what are you doing to bring the quality back to YOUR beachfront property?

By: Richard Handy

Richard Handy — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:19:03 +0000

Good get rid of those who destory the ocean, and maybe we will see the quality marine environment I had when I bought MY beach front property! Those commercial fisherman are a bunch of lowlifes anyway!

By: LearnRemember

LearnRemember — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:07:09 +0000

I am so pleased that the Laguna Blue Belt is happy with the closure! Perhaps one day the minortiy will realize that the ocean belongs to ALL. The paper closure should prove interesting to enforce with volunteers, ONE marine protection officer without a vessel and an understaffed DFG. Hopefully the Blue Belt, docents, and OC Coastkeeper invest in night vision gear as they are going to need it with the rampant poaching that will take place.

Yep, truly amazing!