THEN & NOW

THEN ...

In March 1995, French innovator Rodolphe Streichenberger received

approval from the Newport Beach City Council to add 30,000 used tires to

his man-made, 1,500-tire reef off the shores of Newport Beach.

The Newport Beach resident and founder of the Marine Forest Society --

an organization dedicated to restoring undersea communities -- created

the marine habitat in 1986 with the blessings of the aquaculture branch

of the state Department of Fish and Games and the city of Newport Beach.

According to Streichenberger, by the mid-1980s nearly 80% of

California’s fresh and salt water fish habitats had been wiped out by

fishing, trolling and pollution. The tire reef seemed to be the obvious

solution to a problem nature could not fix.

The tires were considered a replacement medium for creating sea

forests and soon mussels, clams and numerous fish species were expected

to inhabit the area.

All that Streichenberger and his volunteers needed was the green light

from the California Coastal Commission and his expansion project would be

on its way.

NOW ...

But it was anything but smooth sailing as the Coastal Commission

denied his expansion request. Now, four years later, he faces the

possibility of losing the existing 1,500-tire habitat. Streichenberger

said the Coastal Commission informed him last month that they are

planning to have him remove the habitat entirely.

“They want to kill the research,” Streichenberger said.

Streichenberger said the Coastal Commission could grant him a permit

for his habitat but refuses to do so.

Streichenberger calls the habitat a success and flourishes with

mussels, seaweed, halibut, lobsters and rockfish.

Streichenberger said he finds it hard to believe that the site he has

dived to more than 2,000 times could be removed.

“It is sacred,” Streichenberger said. “It has scientific and technical

value.

“You don’t touch it!”

Streichenberger said over the years the U.S. Department of Fish and

Agriculture has attempted to foster marine life with similar plans but

has failed due to the instability of the tires. Streichenberger said his

habitat is the only one in the world that has been tested and considered

a success -- and has a U.S. patent.

Streichenberger said he is prepared to fight to keep his habitat in

place.

“We will resist,” Streichenberger said. “We will say no!”

The California Coastal Commission did not return phone calls made to

its San Francisco office Tuesday.

Streichenberger said he will decide his next move based on what the

Coastal Commission decides to do in the coming weeks.

---- Amy R. Spurgeon