Marine Protection Decision Postponed
State policy makers put off making a decision on the long debated proposals to expand marine protections in southern California until next month.
The new designation of marine protected areas along the coast will effect marine ecosystems, fishermen, tourists, and beach-goers for the foreseeable future.
In Long Beach, nearly 100 experts representing the spectrum of ocean users, from fishermen to conservationists, as well as another 600 members of the public, engaged in a prolonged debate. Instead of finalizing their decision as expected, the state appointed oversight panel on Thursday called for more time to review details of three final proposals.
In the interim, Laguna Beach’s mayor, Kelly Boyd, initiated a petition drive, seeking signatures from those who oppose imposing a blanket fishing ban on the town’s coastline, the third of three proposals under consideration. Boyd invites supporters to the Marine Room, his downtown tavern, to sign a petition favoring proposal two, primarily authored by fishing interests.
City Council members Toni Iseman and Verna Rollinger as well as the city’s lifeguard Chief Kevin Snow each spoke during last week’s meeting, expressing the official city opinion favoring proposal three, which establishes a marine reserve on all of Laguna’s coastline, the highest level of protection. This proposal was mainly written by conservationists.
Iseman’s testimony drew criticism from Boyd, who in June was the only member of the City Council to oppose creating the “no take” zone. Boyd questioned the validity of a claim he attributed to Iseman that a majority of residents want full closure of the coastline. Without a scientific poll, making such a statement to state officials is misleading, Boyd said in a statement.
Iseman could not be reached for further explanation.
In June, an unscientific Indy survey asked readers about a citywide fishing ban and 64 percent of the 1039 respondents opposed it, while 36 percent favored it. The survey is not a statistically valid sample and was open to anyone online.
The Blue Ribbon task Force is set to reconvene Nov. 10 somewhere near Los Angeles International Airport. Their decision goes to the state Fish and Game Commission, which is supposed to ratify the preferred proposal Dec. 20.
Check the MLPA website for updates. www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings_sc.asp
