Cove cop could be coming soon

Andrew Edwards

Poachers beware -- city officials are working to make sure Laguna’s

tide pools have a guardian with powers to make anyone who takes sea

critters pay a price.

In the fall, the Marine Safety Department should have a new member

of its team, Marine Safety Chief Mark Klosterman said. The new

position will be for a marine-enforcement officer, and whoever gets

the job will be charged with teaching visitors about Laguna’s marine

life and given the power to issue citations to those refusing to keep

their hands off tide pool creatures.

“We’re very excited about it,” Klosterman said. “It’s definitely

going to provide a specific focus and effort to the protection of the

tidal area and coastline.”

Laguna’s tide pools are periodically monitored by docents who

concentrate on Rockpile Beach and Treasure Island. Volunteer docents

are at work during low tides on weekends in the fall, winter and

spring and some summer weekdays. Docents work more in the off-season,

when there are fewer lifeguards on duty, Tidewater Docents director

Fred Sattler said.

The new officer will be able to help docents when they encounter

beachgoers unwilling to comply with fish and game laws. Laguna’s

coast is a protected area, and it is illegal to take any sea life

from the beach.

“It’s going to give us, during the non-summer months, some

terrific backup,” Sattler said.

Klosterman said he expects the new officer to spend more time

serving as ambassador to the oceans than enforcing fish and game

laws. He said he foresees the new staff member spending between 10%

and 20% of the time making sure people obey the rules and the rest of

the day teaching beachgoers about life under the sea.

“The majority is going to be education and outreach, patrolling

our beaches and providing visibility to the tidal areas,” Klosterman

said.

One way the new officer can educate beachgoers will be through

tours given to school groups, Klosterman said.

The Marine Safety Department is not yet recruiting for the job,

and Klosterman said he is still making a list of qualifications for

the position to begin the hiring process. Requirements will likely

include a college degree in a subject like environmental or marine

science and coursework with a background appropriate to the

enforcement side of the job.

City Manager Ken Frank said he expects the city to start looking

for candidates in about two weeks. Job advertisements will likely be

placed in publications that focus on city government and the

environment, and the hiring process could take between three and four

months.