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Access, Facilities, at Popular Redondo Dive Site a Problem
Access to the popular dive site off Veteran’s Park in Redondo Beach has been a problem the last few weeks with construction and renovations. Facilities have been compromised as well.
Diving activity is great here because of the Redondo Submarine Canyon just offshore. Normally, parking is plentiful and the showers and restrooms make the beach dive a fun excursion.
It is not clear when full access will be restored. Additional construction may block access entirely. The restrooms and showers also not operational as of press time. Another hindrance is much parking is taken by construction equipment.
Even when access is open there is a year round activity that can cause problems for those seeking to dive off Veteran’s Park in the morning midweek. A weekly Farmer’s Market is held in part of the parking lot and along the bluff every Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you plan to make a Thursday dive here, take this into consideration as parking can become very limited.
The Farmer’s Market, however, can be a fun plus if you are willing to arrive early, before 7:30 a.m. Traffic is light in the early a.m. and once out of the water you can shop to your heart’s content for fresh fruits, veggies and baked goods. Bring plenty of quarters for the parking meters.
Department of Fish and Game Scraps Closure Plans
Protests from recreational fishermen about proposed closures of key ocean fishing areas influenced the Department of Fish and Game to scrap a plan it has been working on for nearly two years and start all over. The DFG heard and reacted to the overwhelming protest at every public meeting it held to discuss the Marine Life Protection Act and its required marine protected areas. The Marine Life Protection Act requires the DFG to develop a master plan for a statewide network of marine protected areas. Look forward to a new series of public hearings to bring commercial and recreational fishermen, as well as divers and environmentalists into the selection of closed areas. The master plan for the MLPA must be in the hands of the Fish and Game Commission by Jan. 1, 2004.
Good Spots for Last Chance Lobster
Lobster Season closes March 20, 2002 and will not reopen until the end of September. This is your last chance to get out and grab some bugs! The end of the season is often almost as good for lobster hunting as the beginning. Many of the popular areas have not been pressured for several months, allowing lobsters to grow and move around.
Reported hot-spots include Palos Verdes, select locations on the frontside of Catalina (although no big bugs), and, oddly enough, Laguna Beach. Make your boat reservations now for the final days of lobster season. Take a look at the California Scuba Calendar in this issue or visit the boat trip database at http://www.saintbrendan.com on the web.
Bush Wants More Bucks for Natural Areas
President Bush will seek sizable increases in spending on the National Park Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System, even as the White House pushes energy exploration in environmentally sensitive areas, according to administration sources. The President will seek unspecified increases in funding for the National Park Service and an increase of $56.5 million for refuge system, run by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The wildlife refuge budget supports 538 wildlife refuges and various wildlife education programs. The President will seek 18 percent more funding above the 2002 budget allotment of $319 million.
National Weather Service Extends Marine Forecast
The NWS Coastal and Marine forecast, which used to cover 36 hours, now goes out about five days. Check it out at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Monterey/marine.html on the web.
El Niño in 2002?
El Niño, that regular warming cycle of the Pacific, is likely to return this spring, but how harmful it might be is unclear. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration made the prediction based on readings of warmer water this winter. Since this El Niño is developing earlier than normal, it could be stronger than average. NOAA said it should know by the end of spring the potential impact of El Niño for the rest of 2002.