nfcc: national fisheries conservation center

Recent Policies Point to Marine Reserves As A Promising New Tool
By Sam Farr

In recent times much attention has been focused on ocean issues, and marine reserves in particular, by state governments, Capitol Hill, and the White House. Just last year the California legislature adopted the Marine Life Protection Act, which requires the state to establish marine reserves, i.e., no-take zones, in a coordinated fashion throughout California's coastal waters. On a national level the President issued an executive order in May of 2000 directing the federal government to significantly strengthen, expand, and form a coordinated network of the national marine protected areas. Clearly policy makers and resource managers view marine protected areas as promising for the protection of our declining marine areas. As fisheries continue to collapse on both coasts, marine reserves are the newest and oftentimes most controversial solution being offered in fisheries management. Marine reserves protect targeted species from extraction and more importantly protect the essential habitat and ecosystem fish depend on for reproduction, growth and survival. However, these no take-zones or marine reserves are just that, areas of no commercial exploitation or fishing, and viewed with justifiable suspicion by many fishing groups.

The Oceans Act of 2000, a bill that I first introduced in 1997, was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on August 7th, 2000. This bipartisan legislation will create a national Oceans Commission to bring together ocean and coastal experts, policy makers, environmental groups, and industry representatives to make a comprehensive review of our nation's ocean and coastal policies. It has been more than 30 years since Congress convened a similar commission, which led to the creation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In the intervening years technological advances and human population growth have placed undue strain on our coastal and oceanic communities and resources. It is high time again for a national effort -- an Oceans Commission for the 21st century -- to analyze our investments in the oceans and the economic and environmental benefits we receive in return. This analysis is essential before we can make informative holistic decisions that would conserve American interests in ocean and coastal resources for future generations. Although the Oceans Act does not address the establishment of marine reserves per se, it does represent a growing movement in federal, state and local governments to move beyond issue-by-issue, crisis management to an integrated, ecosystem-level approach for ocean use and conservation. Marine reserves may very well function as an important ecosystem approach to fisheries management.

Marine protected areas and marine reserves especially are viewed by most as a promising new tool for the enhancement of fisheries by protecting critical fish habitats and their resident fish populations. Numerous scientific studies report the benefits in terms of increases in fish sizes, biodiversity, and reproduction. It is important though to combine this promising new tool with many of the more traditional fisheries management tools such as the establishment of fishing seasons, quotas, and gear limitations. Marine reserves also cannot replace non-fishing restrictions such as pollution controls on water quality. The greatest benefit of marine reserves lies in its ecosystem approach and habitat protection, but even a no-take reserve is vulnerable to harmful inputs of exotic species, contaminated waste and the permanent removal of migrant predators if fishing practices outside its borders are unrestricted.

Marine reserve design, i.e. site selection and size, would benefit greatly from soliciting input from all user groups and consensus building principles in order to create sustainable marine reserves supported by a broad constituency base. Furthermore, the design of a marine reserve or network of reserves must be based on sound science with the input of all local user groups -- the commercial and recreational fishing communities in particular. This is important because fishers have intimate and practical knowledge of the fishing grounds and seasonal movements of fish. Their vast knowledge gained from years spent at sea pursuing fish is invaluable to the decision making process of marine reserve design.

Finally, depending on the size and function of marine reserves, any number of fishing activities may be discontinued, placing more restrictions on an already beleaguered and overcapitalized fishing fleet. It is important to identify mechanisms that would assist displaced fishers, while habitats come back to equilibrium and stocks rebuild within no-take zones. This can take years depending on how severely a habitat has been destroyed by certain types of fishing gear or the life history characteristics of the targeted fish species. Marine reserves targeting Pacific groundfish may take decades before showing beneficial results because of the late maturation and low reproductive rate of most groundfish species. Cooperative research between fishermen and scientists is a promising mechanism that would partner the knowledge and vessels of fishermen with the data collection and fisheries' models of scientists. For marine reserves to be successful rebuilding fish stocks science-based monitoring schemes are essential for tracking the effectiveness of reserve design and for adaptive management responses to increase the benefits marine reserves may yield. The fishing community should be actively involved with the creation and monitoring schemes of marine reserves.

In summary, marine reserves hold much promise for the sustainable management of marine resources. I support the vision of the California legislature and the President in establishing important incentives to strengthen and expand on marine conservation through the design of marine reserve networks. In my political career, first as a County supervisor, then a California State's Assemblyman and now as Congressman of California's 17th District, which contains the majestic Monterey Marine Sanctuary, I have worked tirelessly to bolster the nation's land and ocean resource initiatives. As part of these initiatives I have encouraged the collaborative partnering of research institutions, government agencies, private industry, recreational and conservation groups, and the general public for the creation of solutions to marine conservation and sustainable use. Marine reserves are no different. All stakeholder groups must have the opportunity to weigh in with their knowledge and opinion of marine reserve design and function. I look forward to being part of the debate.

Sam Farr is a U.S. Congressman, representing California's 17th district, and co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus.