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Draft Abalone Plan
A draft Abalone Recovery and Management Plan has been released, and may be found at: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/armp/index.html. The plan outlines how abalone stocks may be managed by lessening or tightening regulations based on scientific data. Currently, there are no plans to change the existing 3 abalone per day/24 per year limits north of San Francisco. Red abalone may only be taken north of San Francisco by licensed sport free-divers (no scuba or hooka) during the months of April through June, (not in July) and August through November.
El Niño Fading Quickly
Temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean fell sharply in February, according to the weather experts. If that trend continues “we would be just about prepared to say that the El Niño was over,” weather expert Blair Trewin reported. “We are seeing what appears to be the initial signs of a decline in El Niño.” Temperatures are now only about 0.4 of a degree above average. That is below the threshold that normally would be considered an El Niño event.
Laguna Parking Rates Drop
The City of Laguna Beach may have gotten the message about raising the parking rates. Responding to a drop in visitor traffic, Laguna Beach has retreated from raising parking meter rates. Late last year they had gone up from 25¢ for 15 minutes to the same for only 10 minutes. Rates now, however, are back to their original 15 minutes.
Fish and Game Using Unmarked Boats
Divers have reported they have been approached and boarded by California Fish and Game wardens using unmarked patrol boats. While the officers had proper badges and identification, it was impossible to tell that the boat belonged to the California Department of Fish and Game. This is actually not a new practice. Remember to always follow fish and game laws to the letter. It is the right thing to do and somebody is watching.
Plastics Level Alarming
According to Algalita, a Long Beach based environmental organization, a full one percent of the Southern California beach sand is now plastic and growing. Plastics in the sea have become an increasingly alarming problem choking marine life and damaging ecosystems. And most plastics do not biodegrade as other materials do. For more information from Algalita, visit their website at www.Algalita.org.
