Sea Life Trumps Economics

Editor,

Ted Reckas's article entitled "Mayor Fishes for Angler's Support" in the June 26 issue of the Laguna Beach Independent spoke to Kelly Boyd's efforts to organize his fishing supporters to pressure the members of the MLPA to not increase the area of a Marine Reserve beyond Heisler Park. Boyd stated that the fishermen will not spend money in our city if the reserve becomes a reality.

I looked up "fishing" in our Laguna Beach phone directory yellow pages and only found one listing for "Fishing Guides and Outfitters" that surprisingly has a toll free 800 number. It isn't local! There are no bait and tackle shops in town, so it doesn't appear that there are local businesses attached to fishing. We do have a dive shop, but it draws the scuba divers that come to Laguna for diving equipment, diving training, air for their tanks, and a good diving experience in our waters. A larger reserve would create a greater draw for these divers and more would come here, spending their money here, instead of going to Catalina or to foreign dive areas.

I have been seeing people come to fish off our rocks for decades and have spoken to many of them. Those that are not locals bring all their equipment with them, they fish, and then go home. Does it make sense that anyone would leave the fish they caught in a hot car while they shopped in our local stores or ate in our local restaurants? I am not aware that a significant number of fishermen use our hotels. The fishing is just not that good anymore to draw anglers to come from out of town for several days. These folks go down to Baja. His point just doesn't make sense.

Kelly Boyd wants to fish in Laguna no matter what the effect or cost to the community. He does not seem to understand that times have changed and that, unless checked, our collective behavior is causing an ecological disaster. It isn't much fun to fish when there are no fish to catch. The ocean isn't like lakes and streams that can be stocked with fish. Unless we save it now, the sea life in our waters will be gone. It's just that simple. Nancy Bushnell Laguna Beach