California establishes Marine Reserves!!

Date: 8/16/06

Subject: California establishes marine reserves!

After 7 years of study and negotiation, the California Department of Fish and Game protects 8% of central coast waters and restricts take from another 10%.

"This is about protecting the most precious places we have underwater, just as we did decades ago on land." said Karen Garrison of the National Defense Resources Defense Council. "What we have underwater is as precious as what we have in Yosemite." read more...

Yay! I was surprised to see gripes from both fishermen and environmentalists as this seemed to be a straight up compromise. I just hope it's enough... I personally would have liked to had more "several small" reserves along the central big sur coast in addition to the couple of big ones.

they now allow people to fish at Breakwater on weekdays, and if you are handicapped, 24/7. This is probably where the majority of people in the Bay Area get certified.

I can't wait to get snagged by some fishing hooks@! .....

all in all, it is a good idea that they have established marine reserves. I don't think they could satisfy everybody.

They have always allowed people to line fish off the breakwater, and there have been divers snagged by hooks. Beware of the fishing line when you dive there but don't let it stop you.

This is one of the areas that we really tried to get designated a marine reserve. Unfortunately there has been some strong opposition and we lost this area. There were designated some nice reserves along other parts of Cannery Row and Point Lobos reserve was extended.

But I'm not sure they satisfied anybody.

Kathy Mendes

Is there a place to get maps showing all the reserve boundaries? Do any of these new reserves prohibit diving? With a camera that is.

Here is a url to the latest uploaded maps (dated June 22, 2006). http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/preferred.html

I don't think they will prohibit diving except of course you can't enter Hopkins from the shore at Hopkins Marine Station. You can swim in from a boat. And Point Lobos requires reservations.

Kathy

None of the reserves prohibit scientific collecting with a permit or diving. They are considering renaming Hopkins Reserve as Lovers Point Reserve since there is now a reserve from Hopkins all the way down to Lovers. -Barrett

After 7 years of study and negotiation, the California Department of Fish and Game protects 8% of central coast waters and restricts take from another 10%.

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From articles in the local rags, I was of the understanding that this was a draft proposal which still has to undergo public comment. I am pretty sure is a long way from being a done deal.

This has been going on for a very long time and I am sure this is the way it will be, no more public comment on this part of it. Maybe additions in the future.

Terry

This has been going on for a very long time and I am sure this is the way it will be, no more public comment on this part of it.  Maybe additions in the future.

Terry

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Randy and I have been going to public comment meetings on this for approximately four years. Terry is right, the boundaries are set.

Kathy

How does this affect the Channel Islands? I saw a map, but couldn't figure out if the no take rules, etc. are going to be extended and by how much.

Jack

How does this affect the Channel Islands? I saw a map, but couldn't figure out if the no take rules, etc. are going to be extended and by how much.

 

Jack

Jack, I think this only applied to the central coast for now. Word was recently their next focus would be So Cal, but then I heard that they still hadn't decided.

Barrett... are you sure scientific collecting is allowed inside the mpa's? That's super cool if it is. I wasn't at the meetings up there and was worried that might get overlooked. Collecting accounts for so little of any take and we really need the ability to select any site for study or collection/education purposes. Heh, just think... setting up MPAs and then not allowing scientists to study them... I think it's been done before!

-wyatt