Fishing Off-Limits at New Offshore Reserves : Environment: As voters mandated in 1990, state designates areas safe from gill nets. Only research will be allowed.

The state Fish and Game Commission on Friday unanimously approved four marine ecological reserves off the California coast that will be off-limits to fishing.

Voter-approved Proposition 132 of 1990, entitled the Marine Resources Protection Act, required the commission to establish the four reserves by Jan. 1.

The main effect of the reserves is to prohibit the use of gill nets, which critics charge kill everything that swims into them, including dolphins, sea lions and harbor seals, species that have no commercial value.

The four preserves will be located:

* Off Humboldt County.

* Off Big Creek in Monterey County.

* Off Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County.

* Off Big Sycamore Canyon in Ventura County.

Roughly two square miles in size, each reserve is in a remote area and away from recreational areas used by surfers and others, a commission spokeswoman said.

The commission, meeting in Redding, voted 4 to 0 to approve the four reserves. There was no opposition testimony at Friday’s session. Eight public hearings on the reserves were held earlier.

The Marine Resources Protection Act allows the new reserves to be used only for scientific research related to the management and enhancement of marine resources.

While the commission’s action puts the reserves off-limits to all fishing, the Legislature next year is expected to consider changes that would allow fishing without nets.