Surfing Soapbox: The wrong time to ban fishing

The cold north wind began blowing hard Monday afternoon, dropping water temps below 60. It seems that the same cold wind has now been blowing a lot longer in terms of our town and/or city. I’m not exactly sure which one it is anymore.

It seems that almost every given week this town or city takes on a new personality. One week kayaking is in at the Montage; the next weeks it’s out. This week we’re talking about the Iseman Marine Reserve Plan, which will ban all fishing over a 7-mile stretch of Laguna Beach.

I think any time you’re taking away jobs from those who have been involved in their respected industry like fishing it’s darn right cold — like the north wind. Our town or city, whatever you may call it, should not be worsening our local economy but finding ways to strengthen it. Cutting out jobs isn’t a way to do it; perhaps finding compromises is a better way. You’re talking about seven miles of coastline here that will be deemed a total “no fishing” zone.

While placing some restrictions on fishing is one thing, why not also turn the focus toward our inland neighbors and place more restrictions on the hazards of urban runoff? By banning fishing in this 7-mile stretch — otherwise known as the Iseman Marine Reserve — it is being implied that this stretch has been over-fished and therefore leading to the lack of fish in this area.

If so, I strongly disagree with that.

It’s a rather heavy-handed stance to take on those who make a living from fishing and for whom it’s in their best interest in seeing our oceans remain pollution-free. However, it makes you wonder why this stance hasn’t been taken with all the new development that have taken place over the last couple of decades inland?

With a few less sewage spills here in town we might actually have fish — that’s without even mentioning cleaning up Aliso Creek.

Improving our depleted fisheries isn’t just going to be solved by banning fishing and taking away jobs, it’s going to take a collective effort with our inland neighbors and otherwise.

The Iseman Marine Reserve plan?

I didn’t even know she went to the beach.

Peace.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. His websites include AlohaSchoolofSurfing and ECOWarrior Surf.com. He can be reached at Jamo@Aloha SchoolofSurfing.com