Fishing Industry Objects to Proposed Changes

Fishermen, fishing industry spokesmen and representatives of the federal fishery management councils are objecting to proposed changes in the way fisheries are managed in the United States’ 200-mile zone.

Target of the objections is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s report that recommends far-reaching amendments to the 10-year-old Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Mangement Act. Among other fishery management responsibilities, the act controls the type and extent of foreign commercial fishing in U.S. waters. Seven regional Fishery Management Councils throughout the country administer the Magnuson Act and make decisions relating to allocation and conservation of resources.

The administration is planning to submit a package of proposed legislative changes along with its 1988 fiscal budget. Two of the most telling changes are to separate conservation from allocation decisions, and to reduce the fishery management councils to administrative groups that pass down decisions made by the NOAA’s central body.

Furthermore, the current practice of nominating regional council members by state governors would be changed to nominees submitted to a nine-member national review board, which would select the council members.

Joe Greenley, executive director of the Pacific Fishery Management Council in Portland, Ore., of which California is a member along with Oregon, Washington and Idaho, reports that the separation of conservation and allocation is being negatively received, along with the method of selecting council members.

Fishermen believe they will be and are being excluded from the decision-making process. Separating conservation from allocation, and putting the decisions in the hands of a central authority could result in gross mismanagement of fisheries because of a lack of understanding of regional problems. Central appointees, two from each state, could result in political chaos. Most believe there is a potential for abuse.

Greenley points out that management of fisheries is a complex process, and that problems are already being addressed by councils in different areas in different ways under the present Magnuson Act.

On balance, it seems that conservation and allocation are not mutually exclusive problems.

Sailing Notes

A creative pitch for funds for an America’s Cup campaign is being waged by the syndicate from the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. The Eagle Syndicate’s marketing experts have been toting models of the 12-Meter Eagle into corporate offices with different firms’ logos emblazoned on her keel. For a hefty price, the Newport Harbor group is offering a sponsor maximum exposures of sorts for a trademark on the keel of a Cup contender.

The Eagle syndicate no longer makes any attempt to hide its keel. “It’s sitting out in the open,” said project specialist Bill Crispin. “We’re not hiding anything anymore.”

Cup rules prohibit the display of advertising on the yachts during the racing, an effort to keep topsides clean of commercial messages.

Sponsored by the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, Newport Beach, the Angelman Series Nos. 7 and 8, will be Sept. 20 and 21 in the San Pedro Channel eight to nine miles offshore of Newport Beach. About 40 sailboats, 22 to 46 feet in length are expected to compete.

Twenty hydroplanes will race in the Miller Highlife Thunderboat Regatta in Mission and Fiesta Bays, San Diego, Sept. 20-21.

The Alamitos Bay Yacht Club will hold its Closing Day Regatta Sept. 20-21. Both bay and ocean classes will compete, beginning at 11:20 a.m.

Important notice to mariners, concerning permanent changes in Catalina Island lights: The island’s East End light (LLNR 2605) will show a flashing white light every 10 seconds with a nominal range of 16 miles. The Long Point light (LLNR 2625) will show a flashing white light every five seconds with a nominal range of 15 miles. The island’s West End light (LLNR 2670) will show a flashing white light every 10 seconds with a range of 16 miles.