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A local Laguna Beach conservationist group has filed a petition with state wildlife officials to expand the city’s no-fishing zone down to the city’s southern border with Dana Point despite pushback from local fishermen.
If approved by the California Fish and Game Commission, the petition would essentially ban one of the last fishing zones along the coast of Laguna Beach.
Proponents, including ocean conservationists, say expanding what is called a no-take zone will replenish and protect marine life in the area – something that they say their current marine conservation area already has proven.
Critics, including commercial fishers, say expanding the no-fishing zone will impact their livelihood and prevent local kids and adults from enjoying the experience of fishing along the iconic coast.
On Tuesday, Laguna Beach city officials voted unanimously on a resolution that calls on the state commission to further analyze the petition to expand the no-take zone after nearly an hour of public comments on the proposed conservation expansion.
“I think there were some excellent points made on both sides, which underscores, for me, the fact that I think it does require further analysis,” City Councilman Bob Whalen said. “This is a decadal review, this is a once in every 10 year opportunity. I think that we ought to ask the commission to do the work.”
City council members also called on state officials to engage with the city and its residents on the petition.
Tuesday’s meeting comes after the Laguna Beach Bluebelt Coalition – a marine protection group – submitted a petition in 2023 to the California Fish and Game Commission to expand Laguna Beach’s no-take State Marine Conservation Area south by about 1.5 square miles.
Mike Beanan, a member of the coalition, said marine protected areas are vital to the city and that the area that is not protected has virtually no wildlife. He also called on council members to come out in support of their petition.
“Any resolution to protect Laguna’s sea life will be controversial,” Beanan said to council members on Tuesday. “City support, now, is an important indicator of community support in the upcoming analysis by fish and game and will weigh heavily in our favor.”
The petition was filed during the California Fish and Wildlife’s first decadal review process – which is set to take place every 10 years to assess the effectiveness of the state’s network of marine protected areas, according to a staff report.
The California Fish and Game Commission’s Marine Resources Committee is expected to discuss the petition at its 9 am meeting on March 13.
Fishing is not allowed in two of the city’s marine protected areas (MPA) on its coast – the roughly three square miles Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area – which is being proposed to expand and the nearly seven square miles Laguna State Marine Reserve – which stretches to the Northern border of the city.
The Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area, which touches a small portion of the city’s north coast, allows for some recreational and commercial fishing.
So does the Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area which spans between South Laguna Beach and Dana Point.
The proposed extension would push the Northern boundary for Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area to the border between the two cities – making Laguna Beach’s southern coast completely off limits to fishing.
City Councilwoman Hallie Jones, the Executive Vice President of Crystal Cove Conservancy, said the current protected marine area boundaries are the result of hard conversations, negotiations and compromise and called for the state to compile data on the area.
“I want to honor the commitment that we as the environmental community made to the fishing community, that this was our deal,” she said at Tuesday’s meeting. “I think it is absolutely appropriate and necessary that we ask the Department of Fish and Wildlife to look at this again.”
Mayor Alex Rounaghi said it is clear that Laguna Beach residents care about the ocean whether they fish or not and raised concerns that the petition was not done in a collaborative manner.
He also said the current protected boundaries are working but is open to seeing more data.
“Just because you’re fishing, it doesn’t mean that you’re not being a steward of the ocean,” Rounaghi said. “There was a compromise that was reached. I also think part of the problem with the petition that’s before us is that this was not done in a collaborative way.”
Ultimately, the proposed no-fishing zone expansion will be up to officials at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Fish and Game commission.
To Fish or Not to Fish
A host of people came out to Tuesday’s meeting to speak about the proposed expansion on both sides of the issue.
Those against the potential extension of the no-fishing zone worried about its impact on local business owners.
Donna Kalez, owner of her family’s business Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, said that banning fishing in Laguna Beach could also shut down small places like hers that rely on it for revenue.
“The current MPA in Laguna is a 10-mile fishing closure significantly impacting our fishing area, not just for us, but for all local fishing boats, as well as lobster fishermen,” she said.
“While we have all supported the existing MPA in Laguna Beach and have adapted to that closure over time, we remain opposed to any further expansion, and really we were very shocked to even see this proposal at all.”
Those in favor of the expansion said it would protect and bring back wildlife – allowing residents to enjoy snorkeling and observe fish swim along their coast.
“This extension is a crucial step towards strengthening marine protection, preserving biodiversity and ensuring the long term health of our coastal ecosystems,” said Grace Stone, an environmental advocate, at the meeting.
Ray Heimstra, an associate director with the Orange County Coast Keeper, said when it comes to marine protected areas, the bigger the better.
“We just want to make it simple for people that this is a no fishing zone. There’s plenty of other places to fish,” he said at the meeting.
Gunnar Burns, a resident, said most of the city’s coast is already protected.
“We’d like to have one little section of the coastline where we can still enjoy ourselves, go fish and catch stuff and dive and have a good time,” he said at the meeting.
“Don’t take another healthy thing away from us, and don’t take food out of people’s mouths.”
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter and corps member with Report for America, a GroundTruth initiative. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.
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