Fishing Permanently Banned Around the Channel Islands

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 10/24/2002 | Kenneth R. Weiss

[GeneD]

SANTA BARBARA -- The California Fish and Game Commission on Wednesday permanently banned fishing from 175 square miles of ocean around the Channel Islands, approving one of the largest marine reserves in U.S. waters.

The decision culminated four years of scientific and public study and debate over the wisdom of substituting traditional fishing restrictions, such as size and catch limits on selected fish, with a reserve system that protects all forms of marine life.

"California once again is in the vanguard of environmental protection," said Fish and Game Commissioner Bob Hattoy. "This is good for the fish, good for the fishermen and good for future generations."

Hundreds of angry, placard-carrying fishermen said the decision would cut into their livelihoods as well as put some of their favorite fishing grounds off limits.

"We pay a lot of dollars [in fishing license fees] to the Department of Fish and Game for the management of fisheries," said Tom Raftican, president of United Anglers of Southern California. "I have a very difficult time paying for an area I cannot fish."

The commission's 2-1 vote establishes a network of 13 marine reserves and conservation areas in state waters strategically placed around the five islands to give a wide array of fish and shellfish a chance to recover from decades of excessive fishing.

Enforcement of the marine reserves will begin Jan. 1. The size of the areas set aside could grow depending on action by the federal government. Over the next year or two, federal officials will decide whether to expand the cluster of reserves into federal waters, which begin three miles from shore.

[A CA Guy]

I don't know all the facts here. Was the area being fished out? If so, I can see them having a temporary ban for a few years. Not for good though.

[Steve_Seattle]

"This is good for the fish, good for the fishermen . . ."

How is banning fishing good for fishermen?

[dasboot]

Said Hattoy, "I am God".

[Vladiator]

The fishermen will stop fishing the nurseries, and the stock will come back stronger.

It will take about 5 years, but the migrating schools will leave the protected area - - they are up for grabs

[rockfish59]

Hattoy

Where's a sniper when you need one?

[saminfl]

Hundreds of angry, placard-carrying fishermen said the decision would cut into their livelihoods as well as put some of their favorite fishing grounds off limits.

This essentially happened in Florida with the net ban and noone cared. We used to have all sorts of seafood here and lots of low priced seafood restaurants. They implemented the net ban (in the state constitution yet) and it cost a bunch and no one knows if it helped because only a few sports fisherman are left.

[backhoe]

Gene, this is an "issue I'm aware of but don't actively follow"-- there is a move afoot by extremist groups to totally ban sport and commercial fishing- everywhere, all the time.

Here's a quick search:

Environmentalists Unite To Ban Sport Fishing - JCAA News (June ...
Environmentalists Unite To Ban Sportfishing. by Mike Nussman, Pres.
and CEO of American Sportfishing Assoication. (from Jersey Coast ...
www.jcaa.org/JCNL0206/0206Ban.htm - 16k - Cached - Similar pages

Environmental Groups Threaten to Ban Sport Fishing - Fly Angler's ...
... stories . . . Environmental Groups Threaten to Ban Sport Fishing By Mike
Nussman President & CEO, American Sportfishing Association. Just ...
www.flyanglersonline.com/features/ readerscast/rc203.html - 8k - Cached - Similar pages

Readers Casts Archives
... Walking' - Not What You Might Think Rewards of Lesser Paths Traveled A Grand Old
Flag Avoiding Divorce Environmental Groups Threaten to Ban Sport Fishing Where ...
www.flyanglersonline.com/features/ readerscast/archive.html - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

FYI Notes
... http://boatbiz.com/index.asp. Letter to the Editor: Environmentalists unite
to ban sport fishing. Readers are invited to send e-Letters to the Editor. ...
www.pabass.com/1_FYI/1_fyi_notes_peta.htm - 16k - Cached - Similar pages

FYI Notes
... It's a pleasure and honor to be a PA BASS Chapter Federation, Inc. member.
FYI Notes - Archived. ... Fishing Tournaments Business or Hobby??? ...
www.pabass.com/1_FYI/1_fyi_notes.htm - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

Florida Coastal Management Program | Waterfronts Florida - Cortez
... Old Homosassa. Although commercial fishing has been hurt by the net
ban, sport fishing guides do a brisk business. Sports Afield ...
www.dca.state.fl.us/ffcm/FCMP/waterfronts/ community/homosassa.htm - 7k - Cached - Similar pages

PETA/Fish
... In October of last year, the non-profit animal rights organization PETA (People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals) launched a campaign to ban sport fishing ...
www.ashevilletribune.com/new_page_125.htm - 10k - Cached

Jerk on one end; a review of the book by Robert HughesTerry ...
... like to ban sportfishing. In my opinion, people who want to ban sport
fishing ought to be banned themselves. (Maybe we can send ...
searider.net/jerkononeend.htm - 6k - Cached - Similar pages

Fish & Game Finder - Articles and Press Releases
... O'Neal to stop going on hunts, and both Western Outdoors and Bassmaster Magazine
published editorials outlining PETA's ongoing attempts to ban sport fishing. ...
www.fishandgame.com/features/71702news.htm - 20k - Cached - Similar pages

JET SKIS
... fighting each other. We have enough on our hands with the pro-closure
lobby that is trying to restrict or ban sport fishing. Follow Ups ...
www.kayakfishing.com/wwwboard/messages/1780.html - 5k - Cached - Similar pages

[Frohickey]

I guess its only fair to let sharks have a taste of what California beach-goers taste like.

[monkeyshine]

Doesn't this effectively ban fishing off the Santa Monica pier, and other recreational/sports fishing off the coast of southern California?