Posted by Brad on October 28, 2002 at 18:14:30:
In Reply to: Re: MLPA Closures. posted by finfan on October 28, 2002 at 16:57:27:
It was the consumptive users exclusively that drove the need for the reserves. Non-consumptive users will NEVER be kept from the reserves, they didn't do the damage and their presence will not have any detrimental effects on the recovery effort.
The shallow water rockfish species are so depleted around the islands that every remaining breeder is an asset to the overall recovery of that specie. That is why even limited take will defeat the purpose of the reserves.
Finfan, if you are so worried about the effects of pollution on the vital forage, why don't you mention the excesses of commercial fishing?
Here are some stats:
in the first 9 months of the year, the following fish were brought into San Pedro and subsequently EXPORTED.
1.6 MILLION pounds of anchovy
2 MILLION pounds of Jack mackeral
3.5 MILLION pounds of Pacific Mackeral
52 MILLION! pounds of squid
57 Million! pounds of sardines
None of that is due to pollution...
I suggest that you actually start spending some quality time offshore to get a perspective on what exactly is going on. Throw yourself out there, get some intimate knowledge of these waters, then come back and talk with some authority.
Here is a pic of that funny window...
http://www.loveofsea.com/images/window.jpg