Here are several things in the discussion that were ignored, got wrong, or missed completely:
- Gloria was flat out wrong in one of her first statements - our fish stocks are not the same as 10 years ago. Major pelagic species are under huge threat and the catch size of many species is going down. It seems like everyone forgets that California has a salmon industry in a death spiral. Thankfully someone mentioned the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-oceans-series,0,7783938.special">LA Times Altered Oceans series</a>.
- Spear fishing & swimming safety. I'd love to see a list of all the incidents that would prompt this concern. My guess is there are very few. No one wants to spearfish where people are swimming as beaches make for lousy fishing. Why are people making this an issue?
- Marine preserves are not only about conserving life in the preserve. They are also about increasing life in non-preserve areas. Frequently <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id=3774">Marine Preserves *increase* yields in non protected areas</a> as they act as nurseries for the rest of the ocean.
- Size based fishing regulation alone (as California has) is a very poor management of fish stocks. Most species do their best reproducing when they are very old and mature. It can take many years, even decades for some species to reach a prime reproductive size. If you allow the taking of fish over a certain size only, you are targeting the very best producers of new fish. By blocking off MPA's, you allow a portion of those best breeders to survive and produce the next generation.
64° Partly Cloudy
Local Fishermen Worried About Marine Life Protection Plan
Here are several things in the discussion that were ignored, got wrong, or missed completely:
- Gloria was flat out wrong in one of her first statements - our fish stocks are not the same as 10 years ago. Major pelagic species are under huge threat and the catch size of many species is going down. It seems like everyone forgets that California has a salmon industry in a death spiral. Thankfully someone mentioned the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-oceans-series,0,7783938.special">LA Times Altered Oceans series</a>.
- Spear fishing & swimming safety. I'd love to see a list of all the incidents that would prompt this concern. My guess is there are very few. No one wants to spearfish where people are swimming as beaches make for lousy fishing. Why are people making this an issue?
- Marine preserves are not only about conserving life in the preserve. They are also about increasing life in non-preserve areas. Frequently <a href="http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id=3774">Marine Preserves *increase* yields in non protected areas</a> as they act as nurseries for the rest of the ocean.
- Size based fishing regulation alone (as California has) is a very poor management of fish stocks. Most species do their best reproducing when they are very old and mature. It can take many years, even decades for some species to reach a prime reproductive size. If you allow the taking of fish over a certain size only, you are targeting the very best producers of new fish. By blocking off MPA's, you allow a portion of those best breeders to survive and produce the next generation.
October 23, 2009 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )