Historical Overfishing and the Recent Collapse of Coastal Ecosystems
A recent article in Science magazine examined the ecological extinction caused by overfishing. The authors showed that overfishing precedes all other pervasive human disturbance to coastal ecosystems, including pollution, degradation of water quality, and man-made climate change. Historical abundances of large consumer species were fantastically large in comparison with recent observations. Paleoecological, archaeological, and historical data show that time lags of decades to centuries occurred between the onset of overfishing and consequent changes in ecological communities, because unfished species of similar trophic level assumed the ecological roles of overfished species until they, too, were overfished or died of epidemic diseases related to overcrowding. One example sited by the authors was the demise of fish populations in California kelp beds.

Farnsworth No-Anchor Zone Proposal: Good News and Bad
As part of the proposed Marine Life Protected Area encompassing ocean waters statewide, a portion of the plan is for Farnsworth Bank to not only become a reserve but also a “no-anchor” zone.

Farnsworth Bank is a series of rocky pinnacles off the backside of Catalina Island noted for its spectacular marine life especially its large stands of colorful purple hydro coral. It has long be a favorite dive site for California divers. It is illegal to take purple coral or any marine rocks out of this area. Concerns for anchor damage of the hydrocoral has lead to this proposal.

The inability to anchor at Farnsworth Bank could severely curtail diving activities. Plans are, however, to have permanent mooring buoys installed at the site much in the fashion many tropical coral reefs are now protected by mooring buoys. It is unclear as of yet where and when these buoys will be installed or who would be in charge of their installation or maintenance.

A Good Place to See Moray Eels
A good beach dive to see moray eels is Fisherman’s Cove in Laguna Beach. Fisherman’s Cove, also known as Boat Canyon for all the catamarans ashore, lies between two other popular dive sites, Diver’s Cove and Shaw’s Cove. Check out “Mermaid’s Grotto” at the center of the cove and in the reef toward Shaw’s Cove.

Anacapa Plane Wreck
On a calm day, with NO currents, divers may be lucky enough to experience a very special dive off Anacapa Island. Located in 110 feet of water, we hear of a four-engine plane from the 1940s. The wreck is located 1/2 mile off the east end of Anacapa Island which is usually bathed by strong currents. If you find it, let us know!

Security Check Measures for Dive Boats, Islands May Be Restricted
In light of recent terrorist attacks the Coast Guard has order security screening procedures for dive boat passengers similar to those boarding commercial airliners. These include, but not limited to, photo I.D. required, bags subject to search, and a ticket or boarding pass in the passenger’s possession. Many of the procedures will, no doubt, be subject to revision and refinement. Expect delays.

Also, islands controlled by the U.S. military, namely San Clemente and San Nicolas Islands may be off limits to approach by civilian craft.

Nearshore Fishery Management Plan Public Hearings Canceled, Public Input Still Welcome
In the wake of recent tragic events on America’s East Coast, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the Fish and Game Commission have postponed two public hearings scheduled to receive comments on the state’s draft Nearshore Fishery Management Plan (FMP).

Canceled were the public hearings that were to have been held September 12 in Long Beach and September 13 in San Diego.

DFG managers and the Commission expect to reschedule the hearings for a later date to be announced. Please check the DFG Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/nfmp, or call Elena Teves at (831) 649-2883 or e-mail eteves@dfg.ca.gov for information on rescheduling these meetings. Additional public testimony will be heard at the Commission’s meeting October 5 in San Diego, at Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, Shedd Auditorium, 2595 Ingraham St. Written comments on draft Nearshore FMP are invited through October 5 and may be mailed to the attention of California Dept. of Fish and Game Commission, Draft Nearshore FMP, 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100, Monterey, CA 93940; fax (831) 649-2917. Comments, including the person’s name and address may also be e-mailed to the Commission at NearshoreFMP@dfg.ca.gov.

The Nearshore FMP was presented to the Commission at its meeting August 23 in Santa Barbara. The Nearshore plan has been designed to guide the management of recreational and commercial harvest of marine finfish species found along California’s coast. The Commission will be using public meetings, e-mail, letters and faxes to gain public insights on the plan. For additional information on the draft Nearshore FMP, or to obtain information about the upcoming public hearings schedule, log on to DFG’s Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/nfmp.

San Diego Council Condemns Illegal Boat Sinking
The San Diego Council of Divers have condemned the intentional sinking of a small boat in the La Jolla Ecological Reserve. The sinking took place in May and sits along the edge of the La Jolla Submarine Canyon.

The San Diego Council of Divers issued this statement in their newsletter: “The San Diego Council of Divers strongly disapproves of the purposeful sinking of the boat in the Reserve.”

Proposed Monterey Desalination Brings Environmental Concerns
Concerns are being voiced about the proposed desalination plant next to Tia Maria's Restaurant on Cannery Row. The plant will supply water to a proposed complex to include shops and condominiums. What the effects of the desalination plant will have on the marine ecosystem is unclear. Water returned from the plant to the ocean will have as much as twice the salt content, not to mention the marine life that may be caught in the intake system.

Giant Sea Bass at La Jolla
Sightings of black sea bass have become common place at Catalina and Anacapa Islands. Now divers are beginning to enjoy their company on beach dives as well. Several juvenile sea bass have been spotted in about 35 feet of water at La Jolla Shores in San Diego. The 3-4 foot long beauties were estimated to weigh up to 100 pounds each.

Hot Lobster Spots
For good lobster hunting, try the island side of west end of the Eagle Reef at Catalina Island. The large pile of small boulders makes for fun and productive hunting. Look also along the shoreline of Isthmus Cove. Much more popular dive sites are near by so the reefs near shore are often overlooked.

At other islands, Pyramid Cove at San Clemente Island looks promising but, as usually, you will have to wade through a lot of short lobster before finding a legal sized “bug.”

Black Sea Bass Chime in Big
The summer of 2001 will go down in recent diving history as a season of big sea bass. More divers have enjoyed diving with these massive creatures in the last few months than in over three decades.

Giant black sea bass were brought to the brink of extinction in the early ’70s from overfishing, both commercially and by sport. Protected since that time, they have only in the last few years begun to make a strong resurgence.

For reasons not entirely understood, small groups of this large fish move into shallow waters around the Channel Islands and along the coast during summer and early fall months. Divers this summer swam with schools of giant sea bass, often numbering over a dozen fish up to five feet in length.

Early in the 20th century, it was not unusual for sport fishers to catch fish six to eight feet long. It makes you wonder; if these fish continue to go unharassed, we could be diving with eight-foot long fish in a few years!