Readers Respond

AT ISSUE: More input regarding the California Coastal Commission’s

decision to force Rodolphe Streichenberger to dismantle his marine

structure.

Rodolphe Streichenberger’s “marine forest” has been ordered destroyed

by the California Coastal Commission (“Coastal Commission: Reef must go,”

May 11). The Coastal Commission’s No. 1 reason for this order is that the

forest attracts fish to waters polluted by the Orange County Sanitation

District’s sewage outfall. Since the marine forest is just off of the

Balboa Pier and the sewage outfall is 4 1/2 miles out to sea from the

Santa Ana River mouth, one must conclude that the sewage outfall’s impact

is more widespread than previously acknowledged. With the water being so

polluted, there should also be posted restrictions on fishing from nearby

piers.

Our government should focus on cleaning up this pollution instead of

removing a thriving habitat. The Coastal Commission would find it much

more challenging and rewarding to attack the source of the problem

instead of a feisty French scientist.

ROBERT CAUSTIN

Founding Director, Defend the Bay Newport Beach

Great idea but it seems he may have gone about it wrong.

Did he get a permit to build on federal lands? Was there any

environmental assessment? Is the Marine Forests Society a bona fide

nonprofit organization?

If the answer to these questions is no, he has asked for a problem.

Also, you say they are cultivating kelp and mussels. Is he harvesting

as well? (Using a public resource for private gain?) We need to

reestablish more habitats in areas that have declined, but it seems if

they let him slide it would set a precedent and anyone could go out and

set up aquaculture off our coast with no review, which would not be in

the interest of the public. It will be sad if it has to go only for lack

of proper planning on their part.

JEFF STEVENS

Newport Beach

I recently fished in a small boat over Striechenberger’s marine

habitat off the coast of Newport Beach. I was amazed at the abundance of

sea life, especially Calico bass. We hooked and released quite a number

of them and all of them looked very healthy.

I can’t understand how the Coastal Commission would be worried about

this habitat attracting fish to a polluted area or injuring fish. I’ve

never heard anyone express that same concern over the many artificial

reefs constructed by the State Fish and Game Department in the Newport

Beach and Huntington Beach areas, nor the outfall pipe from the river

jetty in Newport Beach.

FRANK ROYCE

Newport Beach