Saturday, August 25, 2012

Water off Pacifica may be included in National Marine Sanctuary


NOAA wants to expand Sanctuary outside Golden Gate
The Associated Press
Updated:   08/23/2012 12:46:21 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO—Federal officials are proposing a plan to expand the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to include the busy waters just west of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's plan would enlarge what is already the biggest ocean refuge in the continental United States. Federal officials plan to discuss the idea at a meeting in San Francisco on Thursday, according to the San Jose Mercury News (bit.ly/O8KvAZ).
The proposal would expand the sanctuary's boundaries by 101 square miles to include the busiest section of the Northern California coast, heavily traveled by oil tankers, container ships and fishing boats.
The marine region stretching form Pedro Point in Pacifica to the Point Bonita Lighthouse in Marin County is home to myriad seabirds, marine mammals and great white sharks.
The expansion could lead to restrictions on fireworks shows near the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the use of personal watercraft and tourist helicopters. It could also lead to more wildlife protection and research money.
"That area is of unparalleled beauty," said Maria Brown, superintendent of the adjacent Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. "We want to protect this area, to make sure our kids and grandkids will have the opportunity to see the amazing wildlife and incredible views that draw people from around the world."
Posted by Steve Sinai

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh crap.

That's gotta be like triple fines

when we have another sewer spill.

Anonymous said...

Pete will just lie and call it tar balls once again

Tom Clifford said...

I for one would like to have a list of impacts to Pacifica.

Will we still be able to fish from the pier?

What changes if any will we have to make to our local coastal plan?

What is the impact on coastal Development?

Anonymous said...

Tom

Being you are one of the few voices of reason on this site I will post it for you. From what I hear fines are very steep if you get caught fishing or taking any sea life in the MLPA zones.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/

Kathy Meeh said...

"..what I hear fines are very steep if you get caught fishing" Anonymous 10:21 AM

Oh yeah, that sounds like another Eco-Nimby "voice of reason", but we appreciate Tom Clifford too.

Thanks for the Fish and Game linked reference. The California Marine Life protection Act. "..protecting the state’s marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems, and marine natural heritage, as well as to improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems subject to minimal human disturbance."

Hutch said...

You ARE allowed to fish in the Fitzgerald Marine Life Sanctuary in Moss Beach. I've done it. So saying fishing is banned is not always the case. Usually there are restrictions on what types of fish you can catch but that's true anywhere.

I'm sure we could still fish from the pier and beaches. I would be interested to see what this would mean for Pacifica and local fisher people.

Anonymous said...

Nice to be sure.

Anonymous said...

Check the mlpa map

Anonymous said...

A common misunderstanding, but MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) are completely different from National Marine Sanctuaries. MPAs are under the authority of CA state government (Department of Fish and Game) and generally have more restrictive regulations than National Marine Sanctuaries. NMSs usually don't have any fishing restrictions. For more information: http://farallones.noaa.gov/manage/exclusion_area.html

Anonymous said...

Looks like there will be a plover corral on LMB. Restrictions for fishermen, dogs and everyone else at least north of Crespi will follow soon enough. They're just roosting now but if they ever find a plover nest you can kiss the beach goodbye for many months each year.

Anonymous said...

I hope they tell the hippie surfers their beach is closed. See how they like that. I know surfers who want to see the golf course closed. See how they like it if their sport is curtailed.

Anonymous said...

We have roosting plovers now. All it would take is the discovery of nesting/breeding plovers. That would make it an all new ballgame on LMB. The presence of people, their activities, and dogs discourage breeding.

mike bell said...

It would ban coastal armoring.
This is the real goal of local proponents.
Say goodbye to: Edgemar, Shoreview, West Sharp Park, Sharp Park Golf Course and West Rockaway.
Then we could donate ourselves to the GGNRA, throw a big party and get really stoned.

Anonymous said...

But what about the plovers? Surely the enviros will move heaven and earth, and the Pacifica Ocean, to save our little friends and their corral. Humans can retreat to Fresno but what about the plovers? And the garter snake and the frogs?

Anonymous said...

Say good bye to Mike Bell's house.
But not during our lifetime. Probably not.

Anonymous said...

Mr Bell

Can I fish off your roof?