‘No-take zone’ along Laguna gets nod

Fishing or lobster catching off most of Laguna Beach could soon be illegal.

Six miles of Laguna Beach coastline could be declared a “no take” zone for any form of living marine life under a recommendation approved Tuesday by the Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force.

If the task force proposal for a State Marine Reserve is adopted by the Fish and Game Commission, the coast from Crystal Cove State Park south to Aliso Beach would be off-limits to fishermen from the beach to about three miles out to sea, according to MLPA Initiative spokeswoman Annelore Reisewitz.

That would leave a one-mile stretch of South Laguna in which fishing would be allowed, if the Fish and Game Commission approves the recommendation. The commission will meet Dec. 9 and 10 in Los Angeles to consider adopting the recommended Southern California Marine Life Protection Act zones, Reisewitz said.

The Laguna Beach City Council — minus Mayor Kelly Boyd — voted in June that all seven miles of the city’s coastline should become a State Marine Reserve, the most restrictive designation in the Marine Life Protection Act.

Marine environmentalists say the coastline off of Laguna Beach is extremely valuable as a breeding-ground for marine life and deserves the highest level of protection, higher than Crystal Cove or Dana Point.

Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach south of Aliso Beach, and Dana Point are all recommended as Marine Conservation Areas, in which it will be legal to fish and catch lobsters or other marine animals.

Mayor Kelly Boyd said he plans to continue to campaign against the “no-take” proposal in hopes that the Fish and Game Commission will not approve the task force recommendation. Boyd supports a less-restrictive option proposed by the fishing community that would earmark a portion of the Laguna Beach coastline as a no-take zone but leave a substantial amount of the coast open to fishing.

“This will affect the economy of Laguna Beach, and especially the lobstermen,” he said.

Boyd said he has collected more than 1,900 signatures from Laguna Beach residents in support of the “fishermen’s” proposal.

“The fight has just begun,” he said. “I’m working with the United Anglers of California. We’re not done.”

The Marine Life Protection Act designations will be re-evaluated every five years to see if they are working, and if not, restrictions could be altered, Reisewitz said.

Boyd said he does not believe the state would ever remove a restriction once it has been put in place.

Unlike a Marine Conservation Area, a State Marine Reserve designation allows the imposition of restrictions on most beach uses, including walking, swimming and surfing, to protect the marine environment.

Reisewitz said the Department of Fish and Game would be responsible for enforcing the restrictions, but cities or the federal government could help if the state is unable to patrol the areas.