Some laws just don’t consider boating industry

Everyone knows that boats and teak wood are synonymous and that you

usually find teak somewhere on every boat. However, teak may become

scarce, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Assn., with

the Senate passing legislation that is now moving quickly through the

House.

But wait. Why does a bill “To sanction the ruling Burmese military

junta, to strengthen Burma’s democratic forces and support and

recognize the National League of Democracy as the legitimate

representative of the Burmese people and for other purposes” affect

the boating industry?

As a side effect of the legislation, the U.S. boating industry

would be banned from importing Burmese teak, thus making teak

smuggling a new black market. This could severely effect boating

manufacturers and boaters who use this durable wood for flooring,

trim work, support structures and many other applications.

Unfortunately, most legislators and environmentalists do not

understand issues affecting boating. The marine industry and boaters

themselves are also to blame, as they are mainly reactive, rather

than active on the issues.

A perfect example in Newport Harbor is the eel grass problem that

has grown so far out of proportion that I do not see a reasonable

solution in the near future. The Newport Beach Harbor Commission is

very concerned about the unfounded eel grass regulations and they are

trying to find a solution. However, I wonder about further eel grass

regulations if the text of the law is modified to include the catch

phase “harboring endangered species.”

I have mentioned before in many columns that eel grass is abundant

in Newport Harbor with no established baseline of how much is enough.

Some locals believe that the cleaner and clearer the bay water

becomes, the more sunlight penetrates down to the harbor’s bottom.

The sunlight stimulates eel grass growth.

As a side effect like the teak ban, the growth of eel grass is now

affecting boating with shoaling. As a side note, I have to mention

that the Water Quality Committee of Newport Beach, along with

volunteer events like Clean Harbor Day, have done an excellent job of

helping our waterways.

I worry that the day will come dock owners will be required to

install skylights to lessen the shading of the structures upon eel

grass.

The other night, I dreamt that I was consulting boat owners who

had applied for a new vessel eel grass shading permit from the

California Coastal Commission. The Commission had to approve the

shadow cast under the water from boats before the vessel could dock.

Oh yeah, the dream ended when the eel grass grew up and consumed the

boats.

Those not knowledgeable about boating are quick to point the

finger at boaters, and this is apparent in many news reports.

Remember the news reports from the Morro Bay area that since there

are dying sea otters then it must be the boaters running over the

creatures?

Yet, the otters are dying not from boaters but from landlubber’s

pet cat’s waste being washed into the sea. Only cats’ feces are known

to carry oocytes of Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona. These

protozoa’s cause brain infections in sea otters leading to death.

We must govern Newport Harbor with balanced solutions that do not

micromanage, yet address the whole picture, but this is not going to

happen without the involvement of the marine industry and end-users.

The tip of the week is that Catalina Island has installed a new

dedicated National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather

radio transmitter. Boaters can now receive information about Catalina

and the San Pedro Channel with more up-to-date conditions filling in

the void that always existed in the administration’s previous weather

broadcasts.

A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility

Service was approved that paid for the equipment and the transmitter

installed in the hills above Avalon. You can receive the new

information on weather Channel 5 (162.525 MHz) with your marine band

radio or any radio that receives National Oceanic weather channels.

The new weather station is an added bonus to boaters heading over

to the island this summer increasing boater safety. Now, all we need

is floating weather buoy in the San Pedro Channel to view on the

Internet for current conditions.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to Mike@BoathouseTV.com or visit BoathouseTV.com.