New Bin-2 petitions before the Fish and Game Commission being analyzed by CDFW
BY MERIT McCREA
SACRAMENTO – There are 10 remaining MPA petitions before the Fish and Game Commission, collectively categorized as “Bin-2.” Within these are multiple regulation changes proposed with some proposals asking for multiple new fishing closures all along the California Coast. In the next few issues we take a deeper dive, county by county into each new change or MPA proposed. San Diego County is first.
Here are the stats on the first proposal that includes a change in San Diego County, to expand the Point Loma closed area – the Cabrillo SMR.
2023-33MPA
Submitted by: Laura Deehan, Environment California and Azul
Summary: To protect kelp forest habitat, designate one new MPA ( Pleasure Point SMR ) and expand boundaries of SMRs at Cabrillo , Natural Bridges , Point Conception , South Point , and Gull Island , and of SMCA at Point Dume (Click the name of an MPA to jump to its map)
Bin : 2
Cabrillo SMR expansion is just one of the multiple MPA expansions this petition asks for. As a State Marine Reserve no cultural nor living resources may be taken or damaged. That means totally closed to fishing.
The Cabrillo proposal would vastly expand the existing closure and close 10 square miles from New Hope Rock to south of Point Loma, covering 3 miles of coastline.
The second proposal that impacts San Diego County is the following:
2023-14MPA
Submitted by: David Goldenberg, California Sea Urchin Commission
Summary: Allow commercial take of sea urchins in 9 State Marine Conservation Areas (Double Cone Rock SMCA, Sea Lion Cove SMCA, Stewart’s Point SMCA, Salt Point SMCA, Naples SMCA, Anacapa Island SMCA, Point Dume SMCA, Point Vicente SMCA (no-take), Swami’s SMCA)
Bin : 2
The Swami’s SMCA is large, off Encinitas. It extends from the point at the southern end of Cardiff State Beach, to 3 miles out and north to B Street at Moonlight State Beach.
You can find all the proposals and mapping by searching Marine Protected Areas Petition Process online.
