Posted by Ken Kurtis on June 21, 2002 at 11:00:32:
I read with great interest (and surprise) the story in today's LA Times (page 1) of the immediate (well, July 1) closure of rockfish to commercial fishermen, and probably extending that to recreational fisherman by mid-July.
Most interesting in all this is that it was the federal governement, not the state, who mandated the closure, which will be in effect for the entire Pacific coast, starting at a depth of 60' and go out to most of the continetial shelf, making the shelf a de facto marine reserve. It's estimated that some of the species are depleted to a point where it'll take 50-200 years for them to recover.
Obviously, commercial and sportfishing concerns are up in arms and complaing that this is going to put many of them out of business. Perhaps the most interesting comment in the article is the final paragraph which says, "Yet economists contend that the closures may only hasten the inevitable. Every month, more of these fishermen go bankrupt, failing to balance income from ever-shrinking catches with payments on their boats."
As this will also impact those in the dive community who spearfish . . . thoughts?????
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, CA