Help protect rockfish and scuba park

If this is not the correct forum to post this in, I apologize. I did not see a marine conservation section. Moderator: please move as needed.
+++


The Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission is considering establishing an underwater park out at the tip of the Olympic Peninsula (Neah Bay area) for scuba divers and to protect an amazing area of high species diversity. They need to hear from lots of folks from around the country, as a major consideration for doing this is to increase scuba related ecotourism to this part of Washington State.

Please take a couple of minutes and send an email to the Dept of Fish and Wildlife requesting they establish an underwater park within that portion of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary lying within the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Tell them to protect this priceless treasure by placing it off limits to fishing and invertebrate harvesting.

Comments should be sent to WDFW Rules Coordinator Lori Preuss at Lori.Preuss@dfw.wa.gov before December 1st, 2009.

To see what Tiger, China and Canary rockfish look like, go to BiodiversityGuy's Photos

Details:
That small portion of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary lying within the Straits of Juan de Fuca is home to a very special assemblage of marine rockfish species. I am not aware of anywhere else in the continental United States where one can easily encounter Tiger, China, Canary, Quillback, Yellowtail, Black and Blue rockfish species. It is also home to amazing creatures such as basket stars and giant pacific octopi, kelp and krill, and an astounding diversity of soft corals, sponges, anemones and other marine invertebrates.

Long-lived species of rockfish cannot easily support intense fishing pressures. Black, China and Tiger rockfish live to be 50, 75 and over 110 years, respectively. Even when rockfish are not directly targeted, they are often taken accidentally as bycatch when anglers are fishing for lingcod, halibut, Cabezon and other sportsfish. Because they have a swim bladder full of gas, when they are rapidly brought to the surface the swim bladder expands and they are unable to swim back down, even in a catch and release setting.

For this reason conservationists are working to create an ecological reserve within that portion of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary lying within the Straits of Juan de Fuca.

Such a marine protection area will not only protect a portion of the population of these sensitive species, it will also help bring national and international attention to the wealth of fish and invertebrate species found in Washington State’s waters. The assemblage of rockfish that can be seen there is the most diverse in all of Washington’s waters, so designating this area will be a great boon to state ecotourism efforts.

The ecological value of protected reserves such as this is clear. As documented in the publication The Science of Marine Reserves, 2nd edition, published by the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), “no fishing” reserves increase the biomass, density, body size and species diversity within their borders. Some of the most important benefits occur beyond the borders of reserves. Boosts in growth, reproduction and biodiversity can replenish fished areas when young and adults move out of the reserve. Studies from Alaska demonstrate that lingcod tagged within a reserve moved more than 50 miles out of the reserve before being recaptured.

Please take a couple of minutes and submit a brief email. Your help is requested and needed to help us make the case for marine conservation!

Please forward this information to other interested individuals and organizations!

I would leave it here, but put one in special announcements, and try, cali, and british columbia, as they are more into are diving needs.

Thanks VooDoo

Wow,

You really do get around in these circles. How is it that you are able to know so much about this program when it wasn't release to the public until just before the meeting here in November? This proposal completely skipped all of the formal processes for new rule proposals, and you have provided no science of your own to support this project.

This gentleman is a WDFW commisioner bent on establishing his pet project. He is not a friend of the fishing community, so data you give to him will eventually be used against you. The rock scallop thread is one such example. Seems all well and good, but be warned. This guy is a wolf in sheeps clothing.

Still trying to pawn your pet project? Amazing how this WDFW commisioner can get his project on the rule proposals docket without following the same procedures we all have to follow. Dirty pool Mr. Jennings, dirty pool.

Maybe I came off a bit strong in my first few responses here. So here are a few questions for BioDiversity Guy to help establish a few facts.

1. What scientific data do you have, that is directly related to this area, that says this is a necessary project? A copy of the report would be great, as the data supplied in the WDFW testimony was pretty sparse and incomplete. All the proposal said was "This will provide additional protection for bottomfish and halibut in the area and provide a world class destination for divers to view a coldwater marine ecosystem." There really wasn't any additional data supplied in the rule proposal packet. That was it. Please show your work as specifically related to this spot.

2. Can you provide a date and time stamped copy of your proposal to show that it was submitted within the timeline for proposals for the sportfishing rule changes process?

3. Please provide a copy of the economic projections that support your statement of this area being an economic boon to the area.

4. Did you work with the Clallam County EDC and Clallam County Chamber of Commerce to get any supporting data for your projections, and what is their opinion of the project?

5. Does the Makah Indian Nation support the closure of this area to fishing? This proposed reserve is in their back yard, so it would be nice to know what their opinion is.

6. What studies have been performed in this specific area that support that this proposed 6-7 square mile reserve can repopulate the entire eastern Pacific Ocean's bottomfish and halibut stocks as stated in your proposal?

7. Is the proposal really about creating a diving park without regard to other users, and you are just trying to see if this will fly without supplying any substantive data?

In the spirit of open communication, and allowing all sides to state their case, I apologize for my strongly worded initial comments. It would be interesting to know your answers.

For those of you who do not know the area, this area is the most northwestern tip of the 48 continguous states, and the next sizeable bit of land you would run into heading west is Sakhalin Island off of the coast of Russia. Very few folks will make this trip as just a day trip, as it is 100+ miles away from the major population centers in Washington, and the accomodations in the area are rustic at best.

Biodiversity Guy is up for a confirmation hearing to see if he becomes a confirmed commissioner tomorrow (2/18/2010), so we'll see how it goes for him.

Fast forward to 45:00 into the attached video and see for yourself.

http://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2010020131&TYPE=V&CFID=5328852&CFTOKEN=37157127&bhcp=1.

Seems like Mr. Jennings continues to try and push his personal dive park through another method. I'll post a link to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife's rules proposals. Basically, his proposal would close down all fishing inside of Tatoosh Island, and area traditionally used by small boat fishermen.

It is such a shame to see someone abuse their position as such.