FISH & GAME COMMISSION TO MAKE DECISION
ON CHANNEL ISLANDS MARINE RESERVES!

On Friday, October 11, 2002, the California Fish & Commission announced that they would decide on marine reserves for the Channel Islands on Wednesday, October 23rd at a special hearing set to start at 10 AM at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, Warren Hall, 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara.

While everyone interested in fishing the Channel Islands will be interested in participating in this important hearing, the Fish & Game Commission has structured the hearing in a rather unique fashion. First, the Department of Fish & Game will review the alternatives and summarize the public comments received on the alternatives and the draft environmental document.

Second, a panel of ‘selected’ spokespersons will provide substantive comments on the alternatives. Third, the Commission plans to provide opportunity for the public to comment on the alternatives, but they say that this comment period will be limited to a total of one hour(?). Doesn’t seem enough time to me.

Finally, the Commissioners plan to discuss the alternatives, ask questions of the Department and the panelists, and finally make the final decision. What concerns SAC the most is the lack of time provided to digest the Departments’ responses to the comments received on the draft environmental documents. There have been a landslide of comments critical of the documents, and SAC is worried that we won’t be able to comment on the sufficiency of those responses, much less understand how the Department addressed those criticisms.

As if these potential closures were not concern enough, there will be a second item on the agenda, to consider a petition to list the ‘Zantus’s Murrelet’ as a candidate for state endangered species listing. This seabird is found throughout the southern California Bight, but most of the nesting occurs on Santa Barbara and Anacapa Islands. If the Commission agrees with the Departments’ recommendation to support the petition, the Commission will then be asked to adopt regulations to protect the bird during its nesting season, which starts in February and runs through the middle of July.

According to the petition, noise and lights near their nesting areas disrupt the birds’ nesting, and so the regulations propose to close the waters within one mile of Santa Barbara and Anacapa Islands during hours of darkness from February 1st through July 15th. Boats would only be allowed in ‘designated anchorages’ near these islands, and could only use those lights necessary for safe operations when transiting waters inside one mile. If after one year of candidacy, the Fish & Game Commission decides to list the Murrelet, these and other regulations would be made permanent.

As Santa Barbara Island can be a very productive white seabass and yellowtail area, and as the fishing often kicks off well before dawn, these regulations could be but another negative ‘cumulative’ impact on recreational fishing off the California south coast! In addition, both these islands are important commercial squid fishing grounds, and as often the sportfishing boats get their live squid from the squid boats, you can anticipate yet another negative result from more regulations. If you want to view the petition, you can see it on the internet at www.pacificseabirdgroup.org.

If you are as concerned as I am at these various restrictions I encourage you to attend this meeting and wear red to express your support for our freedom to fish!! Thanks and stay tuned!