25 Percent of Channel Islands Sanctuary Set Aside as No-Take Reserve
The California Fish and Game Commission has approved a plan that will create a network of marine reserves off the coast of California. The joint state and federal plan will ultimately protect nearly 25 percent of the waters in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, creating the largest marine reserve network in the continental United States. It will provide the greatest chance of survival for both the marine resources and the industries dependent upon them. The vote by the Commission protects 175 square miles of state waters around five islands in the sanctuary. “We are very pleased that the Fish and Game Commission has today reached this balanced decision and based it upon the diligent work of all stakeholders,” said Rod Fujita of Environmental Defense.

The marine reserves will provide refuge for the many fish and wildlife species whose populations have been declining dramatically, some by more than 90 percent. Giant sea bass, sheephead, sharks, and rockfish are some of the most affected species.

The plan adopted by the Commission is believed to offer the best balance between short-term impacts on the fishing community and full restoration of the sanctuary’s biological resources over the longer term. “We know that when we give fish a break they come back. That’s a victory for both our fish and our fishermen,” said Kate Wing of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The Channel Islands have been designated as a National Park, a National Marine Sanctuary, and a United Nations Biosphere Reserve because of their awesome beauty and spectacular diversity of life. Yet before today’s landmark vote, less than one percent of the sanctuary was off-limits to fishing.

“Today’s vote ensures that these designations actually will protect fish and wildlife for future generations to enjoy. We’re putting the ‘sanctuary’ back into the Sanctuary,” said Greg Helms, Program Manager for The Ocean Conservancy.

The Marine Reserves Working Group was established three years ago after a petition was circulated by the Channel Islands Marine Resources Restoration Committee, a group of experienced sport fishermen who were concerned by the declines in marine life they had observed in recent years. Steve Roberson, a spokesman for the group, said, “our founder, the late Jim Donlon, would be proud that his goal of protecting the Channel Islands for the future is finally being fulfilled.”

A poll conducted by Edge Research in early 2002 indicates strong public support (76 percent of California voters) for the creation of no-take marine reserves in national sanctuaries, with only 10 percent opposed. Surfrider Foundation’s Chris Evans said, “Those of us who spend a lot of time in the water are very concerned about restoring the ocean to its former health. Our coastal legacy is intimately tied to a clean and healthy ocean, and this is a great step towards restoring that legacy.”

Over the next several years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will review and implement the plan for marine reserves in federal waters to complement the protections the state enacted today.

For complete information on the new reserve areas visit http://channelislands.nos.noaa.gov/marineres/main.html on the web.

NOGI Awards Presented
The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences (AUAS) Presented its 2001 NOGI Awards to Geri Murphy (Arts), Hillary Viders, Ph.D. (Distinguished Service), Bob Hollis (Science) and John Cronin (Sports and Education).

The NOGI Award originated in 1960 and has been presented to a minimum of four outstanding individuals each year since its inception. It is the world’s longest established honor society for divers. The statuette that stands as the award for excellence was created by Jay Alanese Jr. and Louis Cucia, founders of NOGI.

Each year in September, the Academy solicits from its fellowship (112 members for 2001) nominations for the year’s awards. Voting is done by the Academy’s fellowship of past recipients. The new NOGI Award recipients are added to the Academy of Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame and are announced at the annual NOGI reunion banquet.

Geri Murphy is one of the world’s most published female underwater photojournalists, with an impressive record of more than 1,000 published articles, photos and books. Perhaps best identified with Skin Diver, as this magazine showcased more than 170 cover photos over 22 years. Murphy is now a regular contributor to Sport Diver, traveling the world in quest of great underwater photos and stories. Murphy is also a member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame.

Surfacing from his first scuba dive more than 40 years ago, Bob Hollis has climbed the ladder of success as first a retail dive store owner & instructor, to photo equipment designer, to founder and equipment designer for Oceanic and Aeris diving equipment manufacturing firms. Today, Hollis has taken his California born companies global with offices and manufacturing facilities in the U.K., Europe and China. His companies are best identified with high tech engineering products such as dive computers, high performance regulators and BCs.

Often described as The Father of Diving Education, John Cronin founded the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) in 1966. Over the next 35 years, he has taken PADI to the pinnacle of industry success as the world’s leading dive training and certification agency. As part of the PADI development, he published Undersea Journal, a magazine for diving professionals; Project AWARE, a marine conservation foundation; and an association for PADI dive resorts. PADI operates in 175 countries worldwide and has more than 100,000 professional instructor and retail members. In 2002 PADI will certify more than 1-million sport divers.

Hillary Viders

As a speaker, educator, and author, Hillary Viders has brought awareness of our precious and fragile water planet to millions of people. Her lectures, videos, slide presentations and book Marine Conservation for the 21st Century have received outstanding reviews from scientists, educators and environmental professionals. She has published over 400 articles in 33 magazines and journals, plus academic papers, books, training materials, scripts and book chapters on diving marine science & conservation issues ranging from coral reef ecology to environmental law. Viders is also a founder of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, the world-renown honor society dedicated to raising awareness of the contributions of outstanding women divers.

The four recipients were honored at the Third Annual Dive Industry Awards Gala in Las Vegas, Thursday, October 24, 2002, in conjunction with the annual DEMA trade show. Several hundred industry professionals were in attendance at the black tie event.

For more information about the NOGI Award and past recipients, go to www.auas-nogi.org.
—DiveNewsWire.com

Sol Air Intro Rate to Roatan from DFW
Beginning November 30th, Dallas-Fort Worth became the newest U.S. gateway to Roatan in the Honduras Bays Islands. Sol Air, which has been servicing Honduras through Miami since July, has announced an introductory special rate of $299 plus tax for new reservations on their weekly non-stop service from Dallas. Travel must be completed by February 1, 2003.

For details and reservations, including connecting flights, call: Roatan Charter, 1-800-282-8932, email: info@roatan.com, or visit the Sol-Air special web page at http://www.roatan.com/rates/solspecial.htm.