Let the Fishing Bans Begin?

Well, here they are. Just as we've been talking about, bans are becoming more and more a reality for sport and commercial fishermen. After two years of often quarrelsome arguments between fishermen and conservation groups, the California Fish and Game Commission voted to approve a series of marine reserves along the Southern California coast spanning from Point Conception to the Mexican border. While marine reserves are nothing new, especially for California, which leads the nation in setting curbs on fishing, this one might have more of an economic impact than others.

A Flat Pancake Still Has Two Sides

Of course the news of the ban brings out strong feelings on both sides of this hotly contested issue. Some say that these closures do not address the real issues impacting fish stocks, and that they only serve to punish the fishermen more than anything else. They also say the rules and limits in place now are working fine and are no species are in danger of overfishing. On the other side, they say we cannot continue to fish at the rates we have been and not give the fish stocks an opportunity to breed and replenish. They also point out that reserves work, benefitting both the fish and the fishermen.

Facing the Facts

This issue bears a striking resemblance to the climate change debate in that no matter how hotly we contest it, no matter what is causing it, we are still faced with the cold hard reality that the numbers don't lie. Studies are showing that we have run out of room to expand fisheries on our planet, and that the gluttonous methods by which some industrialized fisheries are being emptied of all fish in sight are ruining the populations. Over the last 60 years, the commercial expansion of the world's fisheries have seen incredible expansion, but now those days are over. Now its time for planning ahead.

Seventh Generation

The Iroquois Indians had what they called their Great Law, which held that with every decision you make today, you must look ahead seven generations (about 200 years) and consider if your choice will benefit your descendants. That's quite a profound notion, and its much different than the instant gratification our disposable culture has fostered in us for the last 60 years or so. What we have to remember is that no matter how much contention there might be, we all want more fish. The problem is that many fisheries have become dominated by corporate interests with no real care about conservation. The other problem is that short-term thinking dominates most aspects of our media culture and politics, and that has to be overcome.

We want our coastal fishing communities to thrive. We want businesses and economies who rely on fishing to thrive. But most of all we want the fish to thrive. Without fish, none of it is possible.

sources: latimesblogs.latimes.com, underwatertimes.com, wikipedia.org

Back to

Captain Kujo's Drysuits & Waterproof Bags

Home