Budget Cuts May ‘Cripple’ Coast Guard

Last week’s vote by the U.S. Senate to cut the House-proposed Coast Guard appropriation by $230 million could have a devastating impact on West Coast and national operations, according to Rep. Robert Badham (R-Newport Beach).

Badham is working to prevent the cut and fears that such a reduction could affect the facility in Newport Harbor. The Senate’s proposed appropriation was more than $270 million below that proposed by President Reagan.

Badham said such a budget decrease could result in the mothballing of more than 40 cutters nationally, including the vessel based in Newport Beach, the Point Divide. In addition, more than 40 aircraft used in search and rescue and drug interdiction operations could be grounded, more than 6,000 jobs eliminated, three air stations closed, activities at 12 others reduced and 15 shore-side search and rescue stations closed.

“Failure to reject the Senate position would literally cripple the Coast Guard,” Badham said.

Sailing Notes

Melbourne Smith, who supervised the building of the cutter Californian in San Diego a couple of years ago, seems to be nearing his goal of building a replica of the 190-foot clipper ship Sea Witch in San Francisco. The Sea Witch’s keel laying is set for July 1, 1986, according to Wooden Boat magazine. Money to build the historic sailing vessel is expected to come from corporate sponsorship. Smith is said to be trying to persuade the U.S. Navy to take over the ship for training, much in the manner of the Coast Guard’s Eagle, after the ship is sailed around the world.

The National Coalition for Marine Conservation, Pacific Region, has called for independent estimates to prevent serious declines in populations of some fish and marine mammals. Carl Nettleton, the coalition’s executive director, said that the state’s authority to protect certain species is limited to preventing the collapse of the populations of these animals. “This means that unless a population of fish, marine mammals or marine birds is in danger of collapsing, nothing can be done by the state. In fisheries, the only adequate scientific evidence is the commercial catch. This means that the only evidence of fisheries collapse is often when the commercial catch is at or near collapse. This is not management, it is crisis prevention at best,” Nettleton said. The thresher shark, halibut and white sea bass populations are among those currently endangered. Speaking at a symposium sponsored by the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists, Nettleton said that given the history of fisheries management in this state, commercial fishermen will not cooperate in setting harvest regulations without political pressure or the threat of state or federal action. Nettleton said independent estimates of population sizes need to be developed, the causes in declines at each stage of the animals’ lives need to be determined, and a new mechanism for determining how to utilize resourses must be put in place.

Bob Bordwell of the Balboa Yacht Club has been elected president of the Newport Ocean Sailing Assn., the organization that stages the annual Newport to Ensenada yacht race and the 14-Mile Bank and the Argosy races. Jerry Brame was elected secretary; Jim Emmi, treasurer; and Rod Lippold, judge advocate. New directors are Bill Dawson, Coronado Yacht Club; Ed Gregory, Seal Beach Yacht Club; and Jack Raub, South Shore Yacht Club. Mike Kane of SSYC will be general chairman for the 1986 Ensenada Race and Jim Kerrigan will be race committee chairman.

Navigational hazard: Chevron USA Inc. has begun construction operations of oil platform Esther in the San Pedro Channel. Operations will continue until approximately Feb. 28, 1986. Esther is located at 33 degrees, 43 minutes, 7 seconds north; 118 degrees, 06 minutes, 49 seconds west, which positions it about seven miles south of Huntington Beach and east of the northbound coastwise traffic lane. Two derrick barges, two cargo barges and two tugs will be involved in the operation.