My letter published in Laguna Independent

[Tinman57]

Here is my letter, published today in the Laguna Beach Independent Newspaper. We're fighting Pew and Marine Reserves up here in Oregon, but since I grew up in Laguna, I wrote the letter.

Anglers Marginalized by Vote | www.lagunabeachindependent.com | Laguna Beach Independent


Anglers Marginalized by Vote
Editor,
I grew up in a Laguna that embraced both sportfishing and marine conservation. Thurston Junior High sponsored a fishing club and we caught perch and opaleye from the rocks. In 1970, I attended the dedication of the Aliso fishing pier, which became my favorite hangout. I rode the city bus to get there. Aliso was the third fishing pier in Laguna, following the Bird Rock pier around 1900, and the Treasure Island Pier in the 1960s. Brazil's Bait and Tackle shop, near Cleo Street, kept anglers supplied until about 1968.

Sportfishing was valued as wholesome, low-cost recreation, especially for the elderly and the young. Like my peers I fished, body surfed, and snorkeled 200 days a year for a decade. The ocean was the beating heart of Laguna, and after such intimacy, I fell deeply in love with that heart.

Also in the 1970s, Laguna wisely created the Heisler Park Ecological Reserve, arguably the first in the country. Before the reserve, busloads of Orange County schoolchildren arrived on field trips, with each child taking home a bucket of starfish and crabs. The reserve stopped the carnage, and raised awareness even in unprotected areas.

Thus sportfishing and conservation coexisted in Laguna. Now, in a step backwards, the City Council voted 4:1 to ban sportfishing citywide, from El Morro to Three Arch Bay. The message to anglers is clear: you are officially marginalized, go to the separate-but-equal fishing areas outside the city. Separate is never equal, and such intolerance cuts at the very soul of Laguna.

The council resolution erroneously claims "with the removal of the mature lobster and California sheepshead, which are predators of sea urchins, the kelp forests which would naturally grow on Laguna's … reefs are unable to thrive since the over-population of urchins feed on kelp." Nonsense. The science is very clear about the main reasons for kelp decline, that is: 1) the regional extinction of the sea otter in the 19th century, and 2) ocean sewage outfalls, of which Laguna has two. The kelp beds have never fully recovered from the loss of the sea otter, which was the primary urchin predator.

The resolution also cites "dramatic decline of marine fisheries." Science supports no such conclusion for Laguna's popular sport fish such as opaleye, perch, corbina and calico bass. No such decline has in fact occurred in Laguna. "Dramatic decline" is a throwaway line, uncritically accepted by the council.

Shame on you, city council, for embracing intolerance, and reducing the ocean to a mere ornament.

[bigderel]

Awesome job, very well written and to the point. If your article doesn't scream common sense, I don't know what does.

[the junky]

Thats a great article. I to grew up in Laguna and when to Thurston JH and feel the same way. I fish off Laguna all the time and teach my kids catch and release. We only take a fish once in a while.

[IParker]

Amen, LBHS Class of 1991

[bajabaron]

Originally Posted by Tinman57

Here is my letter, published today in the Laguna Beach Independent Newspaper. We're fighting Pew and Marine Reserves up here in Oregon, but since I grew up in Laguna, I wrote the letter.

Anglers Marginalized by Vote | www.lagunabeachindependent.com | Laguna Beach Independent


Anglers Marginalized by Vote
Editor,
I grew up in a Laguna that embraced both sportfishing and marine conservation. Thurston Junior High sponsored a fishing club and we caught perch and opaleye from the rocks. In 1970, I attended the dedication of the Aliso fishing pier, which became my favorite hangout. I rode the city bus to get there. Aliso was the third fishing pier in Laguna, following the Bird Rock pier around 1900, and the Treasure Island Pier in the 1960s. Brazil's Bait and Tackle shop, near Cleo Street, kept anglers supplied until about 1968.

Sportfishing was valued as wholesome, low-cost recreation, especially for the elderly and the young. Like my peers I fished, body surfed, and snorkeled 200 days a year for a decade. The ocean was the beating heart of Laguna, and after such intimacy, I fell deeply in love with that heart.

Also in the 1970s, Laguna wisely created the Heisler Park Ecological Reserve, arguably the first in the country. Before the reserve, busloads of Orange County schoolchildren arrived on field trips, with each child taking home a bucket of starfish and crabs. The reserve stopped the carnage, and raised awareness even in unprotected areas.

Thus sportfishing and conservation coexisted in Laguna. Now, in a step backwards, the City Council voted 4:1 to ban sportfishing citywide, from El Morro to Three Arch Bay. The message to anglers is clear: you are officially marginalized, go to the separate-but-equal fishing areas outside the city. Separate is never equal, and such intolerance cuts at the very soul of Laguna.

The council resolution erroneously claims "with the removal of the mature lobster and California sheepshead, which are predators of sea urchins, the kelp forests which would naturally grow on Laguna's … reefs are unable to thrive since the over-population of urchins feed on kelp." Nonsense. The science is very clear about the main reasons for kelp decline, that is: 1) the regional extinction of the sea otter in the 19th century, and 2) ocean sewage outfalls, of which Laguna has two. The kelp beds have never fully recovered from the loss of the sea otter, which was the primary urchin predator.

The resolution also cites "dramatic decline of marine fisheries." Science supports no such conclusion for Laguna's popular sport fish such as opaleye, perch, corbina and calico bass. No such decline has in fact occurred in Laguna. "Dramatic decline" is a throwaway line, uncritically accepted by the council.

Shame on you, city council, for embracing intolerance, and reducing the ocean to a mere ornament.

Very articulate letter. Let's hope it helps knock some common sense into these people. Nice work.

[Throwitback]

Fishermen of Laguna Beach,

Please make sure you fill out the MLPA Open House comment cards in specific to what spots are imperative to you. I.E. Places that are crucial for you to launch your kayak; areas that are important because of convenience of access. As of now the less obtrusive maps still have Laguna’s SMR (Fishing Closures) from Crescent Cove to Aliso Creek. I have extra comment sheets from the MLPA Open House. If you haven't filled one out, contact me and I can work on getting a few to you as they need to be received by July 19th for distribution to SCRSG and BRTF prior to round 3. I was cut down when I saw the current map proposals of Laguna Beach, but have been partly restored by being reminded how the open houses are for this kind of public recognition, and the possibilities of making an exception if it is important enough or deemed crucial.

If you like to fish in Laguna Beach from shore/Kayak, or want to help keep a few extra places open for the survival of Kayak and shore fishermen in Laguna, please PM me so I may contact you if needed. It is imperative.

Thank you,
Charles Hellingson

[Throwitback]

I still don't believe that the MLPA being presented is correct in integrity, government oversight or substance. But we must be involved in either case. Keep up the fight.

[M/V Santa Rosa]

The council resolution erroneously claims "with the removal of the mature lobster and California sheepshead, which are predators of sea urchins, the kelp forests which would naturally grow on Laguna's … reefs are unable to thrive since the over-population of urchins feed on kelp." Nonsense. The science is very clear about the main reasons for kelp decline, that is: 1) the regional extinction of the sea otter in the 19th century, and 2) ocean sewage outfalls, of which Laguna has two. The kelp beds have never fully recovered from the loss of the sea otter, which was the primary urchin predator.



so, without the sea otter, we still needs urchin divers to control the urchin population otherwise we lose the kelp beds.

[kelpangler]

Well written man!

Marginalize is the right word... The city council is basically saying that we are the scapegoats for the ocean's pollution. Never mind the runoff that the general population creates which mucks up habitat, it's the fishermen!

[O.G. Crow]

Originally Posted by IParker

Amen, LBHS Class of 1991

same here LBHS 90' it does not suprise me the council voted 4-1 remember this is a town that can tell you what color you can paint your house what a bunch of fucking tree hugging nazi idiots... I'm not impressed it sucks that Kelly Boyd is the only sane person involved with the city council the rest is soccer moms and guys that are still selling liar loans. Just part of the reason why I use the toll road to get to Newport and to completly avoid that area....

[Throwitback]

Tinman57, Thank you for writing this letter. You definitely should forward the letter to the Department of fish and game MLPA Dept.


Check out some of the other letters i found on the same Letters section in the Newspaper for the same day:
www.lagunabeachindependent.com | Laguna Beach Independent | Letters


Why Stop There?
(From the Google search I've done on this guy, the dots are pointing to him being serious.)



The Gate-guarded Solution
The Gate-guarded Solution
Editor,
Recently, the South Laguna Civic Association and the Coastal Commission succeeded in preventing Billy Fried and La Vida Laguna from renting kayaks on Goff Beach. Really? Billy Fried. Really? One of Laguna's true ambassadors of tourism and fun, a man who over the years has single handedly brought hundreds if not thousands of people to our city to introduce them to an ocean activity that is safe, educational and eco-friendly. Really? You blocked those hundreds of tourists from hotel rooms and restaurants and shopping trips in the village? Really? You actually fought a man who named his business "La Vida Laguna" or "The Laguna Life". Really?
And now, the city council has voted to clear the way to outright ban fishing in Laguna Beach waters. No fishing? Really?
In light of this new spirit of restriction, I propose the following plan I like to call "The Final Solution". Really. Why don't we simply erect guard gates at each end of Coast Highway and one in the canyon and simply stop all those pesky "people" from coming in at all. Really. No noise, no traffic, no tourists, no parking enforcement revenue, no anything. Really. Think about it. The next time you have a cocktail party on your deck overlooking the ocean you won't have your view obstructed by, well you know, people. Really. Maybe then finally we can get Laguna Beach back to what it was intended to be: an exclusive enclave for old, rich, white, straight people. Really Laguna Beach?
Stuart Shook
Laguna Beach