LAGUNA BEACH : City Backs Extended Marine Life Refuge

Urged on by residents who say local tide pools are being depleted, the City Council has joined forces with state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) in an effort to protect sea life along virtually the entire coast of this city.

The council unanimously endorsed a measure Tuesday that would create a seven-mile-long ribbon of protection along the Laguna Beach coastline, extending 600 to 700 feet into the ocean.

If the proposal is endorsed by the state Legislature as expected, Laguna Beach will become the only city in Orange County to provide such expansive protection for its coastline, recreation director Cindy King said.

Supporters say such protection is needed to keep what one called “organized gangs of people” from indiscriminately hauling away buckets of sea life, such as mussels, snails and scallops.

“They descend on the rocks with crowbars, screwdrivers, anything they can get their hands on,” Victoria Beach resident Don Kaul told council members. “They’ve got these huge white buckets, maybe 10 to 15 gallons, and they fill them up.”

The measure was overwhelmingly supported by those who addressed the council Tuesday night.

Jan Dana, a Bergeson spokeswoman, said Wednesday that the senator will amend a bill already in the works to strengthen tide pool protection in an area of Dana Point to add the wording regarding Laguna Beach.

Laguna Beach currently has two marine life refuges at opposite ends of town, where divers and fishermen can take only 27 specifically listed forms of sea life. Recreation such as swimming, surfing and boating is allowed in a marine life refuge.

The city also has a small ecological reserve at Heisler Park, where the taking of all marine life is forbidden and recreational activities are restricted.

The council’s action calls for the city’s current refuges to be extended throughout the coastline, with the exception of the beaches at Irvine Cove at the north end of the city.

Irvine Cove was not included because city officials had not consulted with residents from that area yet. The protection may be extended to that area at a later date.

Extending a marine life refuge requires state approval.

Dana said Bergeson expects no opposition in the Legislature and that the bill could be signed into law by mid-fall.