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San Luis Obispo County and National Marine Sanctuariesby Carol GeorgiEven though there isn't a national sanctuary protecting most of San Luis Obispo County's coastal waters, Morro Bay fisheries are doing a great job of working with the sustainable fisheries program in cooperation with the Nature Conservancy. The Conservancy, California Fisheries Fund, and FishWise are helping to support Central Coast fisheries and fishing communities by reaching out to consumers who care about fresh fish, want local sustainable seafood and have a desire to grow their businesses. Go to California Fisheries Fund to learn more about some of the innovative fishermen and fishing businesses in Morro Bay.
The coastal waters of San Luis Obispo County sit between two national marine sanctuaries. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) lies to the north of us, and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) is to the south. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared these areas sanctuaries due to the importance of the marine life and habitat in these areas. For example, the area between these two sanctuaries contains a convergence of both southern and northern marine life, as well as a constant upwelling that feeds the marine life traveling between the two sanctuaries, making that area – our area -- an area of national and international significance. A Central Coast National Marine Sanctuary (CCNMS) bill was proposed to Congress twenty years ago, but was not approved. The proposed CCNMS would have had borders ranging from Mill Creek in Monterey County on the northern end, to the southern portion of Point Sal in Santa Barbara County. At that time, only the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary proposal was approved. The MBNMS opted for a southern border at Santa Rosa Creek in Cambria. This extension covered two of the eight core marine areas of the CCNMS. The move ended up leaving most of San Luis Obispo County coastal waters without a marine sanctuary or the funding that would have gone to the county to support such a project. In March 2009, MBNMS added a third core area from the original CCNMS proposal by adding the Davidson Seamount area. Now, MBNMS is considering a third expansion south to include the Montebello shipwreck. The documentation for the Central Coast National Marine Sanctuary is available at SloSurfRider. SLO County stakeholders asked for a marine sanctuary in 1990, as seen by their letters of support, including the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the City of Morro Bay. According to NOAA, the primary objective of a sanctuary is to protect natural and cultural features while allowing people to use and enjoy the ocean in a sustainable way. Sanctuary waters not only provide a secure habitat for species close to extinction, but also protect historically significant shipwrecks and artifacts. They serve as natural classrooms and laboratories for schoolchildren and researchers alike to promote understanding and stewardship of our oceans. Many sanctuaries are cherished recreational spots for sport fishing, kayaking, surfing, and diving and support commercial industries such as tourism and fishing. The San Luis Obispo County coastal waters from Cambria to Point Sal and out to the Santa Lucia Escarpment could be included in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary through expansion. Extensions could occur in small amounts gradually, in the same way that Cambria and Davidson Seamount became incorporated into the MBNMS. Or expansion could be done in one or two larger sections, which would enable us to maintain local control and input into management decisions by the formation of a San Luis Obispo County Advisory Council. Sanctuary managers make virtually all sanctuary decisions based on advisory council input. Such implementation would take a cue from the North and South Keys in Florida. These areas are under separate advisory councils, but come together under shared jurisdiction. Similar implementation would mean that the two sanctuaries could protect local marine life, and still leave locals with the control of the areas in question. Banner image of Otter & Pup by Cleve Nash |
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