Proposed marine reserve plans under state review
Mike Lee
San Diego Union Tribune
07/08/2010
State wildlife officials have launched an environmental review of the controversial marine protected areas proposed off the coast of Southern California. Five strategies are being considered for the region that extends from Point Conception to the U.S.-Mexico border, although an approach described as a hybrid plan is the front-runner.
Reserve-setting efforts have angered fishermen who fear they will be excluded from prime harvest areas that are proposed as no-take zones to benefit species in California’s marine waters.
The first phase of the investigation involves setting the range of issues and the type of information to be considered in the draft environmental impact statement that will be prepared in coming months.
A meeting about the scope of the review is set for July 23 in Long Beach.
