It is a tragic tale of loving something to death. The white
abalone, a creature that once blanketed the rocky waters of
southern California, is now on the brink of extinction. The
culprit? Humans.
For decades, conservationists have struggled to implement
programs that will work to protect marine life in an arena with a
burgeoning population and an even greater demand.
To the relief of conservationists and scientists alike, two laws
enacted in 1999 have begun to show progress, according to a report
released by UCLA’s Institute of the Environment.
Previously, people operated as if there were an endless amount
of resources in the water, no matter how much fishing took place,
said Gregor Hodgson, visiting professor at the UCLA Institute of
the Environment.
Now, the Marine Life Protection Act and the Marine Life
Management Act allow the Department of Fish and Game to manage
marine resources.
Hodgson was responsible for the Institute’s report card,
giving Southern California a grade of B- for marine conservation,
largely because of the two laws.
“For Southern California, there are two fisheries for
which there have been fishery management plans prepared, which is a
big step,” said Michael Weber, a freelance writer and
research consultant specializing in marine and coastal
conservation.
In particular, the Nearshore Fishery Management Plan has focused
on protecting 19 species of fin fish, such as black rockfish, that
frequent kelp beds and reefs in less than 120 feet of water off the
coast of California.
Species were placed under the Nearshore Fishery Management Plan
based on changes in catch levels, special biological
characteristics and special habitat needs.
The plan focuses on preventing overfishing, rebuilding depressed
stocks, ensuring conservation, and promoting habitat protection and
restoration, by protecting and restricting areas for commercial
fishing.
Despite improvements, there is still much left to be done.
“The living marine (species) are in a pretty disastrous
state ““ about the same or worse than in many third-world
countries,” Hodgson said.
Work that needs to be done includes reproducing endangered
marine species in captivity, then placing them in the wild at an
age when they can better defend themselves, said Hodgson.
Efforts similar to this are being pursued at the Cabrillo Marine
Aquarium, located in San Pedro, Calif. Currently, the aquarium is
raising baby Geribaldis, the state fish of California, and giving
them to other aquariums so they do not have to be caught in the
wild, said education specialist at the aquarium, Linda Chilton.
Conservationists say the federal government and other political
leaders have to step in when necessary to ensure protection.
“The government should provide the leadership and
umbrella, the legal framework for marine conservation,”
Hodgson said.
In addition, there is growing concern that future progress will
be hindered because of budget cuts.
“The part of the Department of Fish and Game that has to
do with managing and conserving marine wildlife is a relatively
small part of Fish and Game already, but they will be losing 20
percent of their staff,” Weber said. “They would have
to reduce the expectations of what they can actually do.”