Posted by Chris on March 29, 2000 at 21:36:58:
California Senate bill SB241, which is supported by the oil companies and ther lobbying groups CARE (http://CalReefs.org/) and CEMR (http://PreserveReefs.org/) would turn all offshore oil platforms into game preserves.
This would prohibit the taking of any game on or around such platforms.
The recent article in California Diving News (http://www.saintbrendan.com/cdnmar00/kelpvn3.html) makes no mention of this fact!
Divers who seek game and sport fisherman should not support this bill!
I personally support leaving the rigs as artificial reefs, but I can not support turning them into game preserves!
Do not be snowed by the recent contribution of CMER to the chamber. The oil companies do not have the interests of divers in mind!
Please read the text of the bill yourself at:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_241&sess=CUR&house=B&site=sen
or
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0201-0250/sb_241_bill_20000127_amended_sen.pdf