Joe Simitian: Honoring an unsung hero -- our ocean

Joe Simitian
Santa Cruz Sentinel
06/08/2008

I am privileged to represent in the legislature one of the most beautiful places on earth -- California's central coast. That beauty doesn't end at the shore with our beaches and state parks--it also lies beneath the surface of the ocean, where countless colorful rockfish, sea anemones and marine mammals make their homes in the kelp forests, reefs and submarine canyons of our Bay.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and California's new system of marine protected areas help protect these underwater habitats and the many species that rely on them. Efforts to reduce ocean pollution are also underway. These measures, put in place by humans, help our ocean do its job, by keeping ecosystems healthy and our wildlife abundant. In return, our ocean contributes immeasurably to the quality of life of central coast residents, and supports our area's tourism-based economy.

This June 8, World Oceans Day, is the perfect opportunity to recognize both how far we have come and identify future steps that need to be taken to ensure a healthy ocean for the future of all Californians.

Two national studies by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission have found numerous, serious threats facing our ocean, and identified the need to address them immediately. Climate change, oil spills, overfishing and coastal development pressures from an ever-increasing population make up a growing list of threats that means pressures on California's coastal waters will only increase.

California has a long history of being out in front of ocean conservation efforts and is leading the nation in many areas. However, the problems facing our ocean don't recognize county or state boundaries. For truly effective solutions, local, state and federal governments must work together. It's not enough for California to lead; the rest of the nation must join us.

Fortunately, we have several recent successes to celebrate. In 2005, I authored legislation that prohibited large vessels such as cruise ships from dumping their wastes in state waters. California's four national marine sanctuaries have since followed suit and are now proposing parallel regulations prohibiting large vessel waste discharges in sanctuary waters further offshore. The state legislature is currently considering legislation I've proposed that would require law enforcement officers onboard all cruise ships in California to ensure compliance with environmental laws and public safety. Similar protections are needed at the federal level.

In 2006, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law my Senate Bill 201, California's Sustainable Oceans Act. This law mandates that offshore aquaculture operations in state waters adhere to strict environmental and liability measures to protect our coastal waters from the well-documented risks of ocean fish farming, including fish escape and disease transfer. The federal government is now considering similar but much weaker national legislation to regulate marine aquaculture. They should look to California as a model for safe, effective aquaculture legislation.

Finally, efforts are underway at both the state and federal level to adopt marine protected areas including fully protected marine reserves. Like underwater parks, marine protected areas provide lasting protection to habitats and ocean wildlife. Marine scientists tell us that marine reserves, in conjunction with other efforts, can help reverse the trend of diminishing ocean life.

California's landmark Marine Life Protection Act, adopted in 1999, requires a statewide network of marine protected areas to help protect coastal species and habitats. Last year we saw the successful creation of 29 of these new underwater parks along the central coast, covering 18 percent of state waters and including iconic places like Natural Bridges, Año Nuevo and Point Lobos. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is now following suit and planning marine protected areas to complement our state efforts--extending protections into deeper water habitats and to offshore species.

Recent news stories note that the Bush administration is seeking to create a new set of marine reserves in U.S. waters that would be the largest in the world. This move is a sure sign that we've come a long way in recognizing that protecting our oceans is a bipartisan issue.

We sometimes forget about the huge groundswell of support there is in California, as well as the rest of the U.S., for protection of our ocean and its fish and wildlife. On this World Oceans Day, I hope a reminder of these visionary achievements will result in a tidal wave of support and action by decision makers, who hold the fate of their oceans in their hands.

State Sen. Joe Simitian represents the 11th Senate District.