Marine Refuge Bill Clears State Senate Panels

Two state legislative committees on Tuesday signaled their approval of bills that would establish a marine refuge along Malibu’s coastline.

The proposed legislation would create two “no-take” zones to protect the Malibu shore against fishing and scavenging. One zone would be established along Point Dume and the other would be located along Nicholas Canyon County Beach and El Matador State Park.

The Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee passed AB 374, sponsored by Assemblywoman Sheila James Kuehl (D-Santa Monica). The full Assembly is expected to consider the bill next month, said a spokesman for Kuehl.

The Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee approved SB 1006, authored by Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Los Angeles). The bill next goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee. If it passes the panel, it will go to the full Senate for a vote.

Four Malibu officials, the city’s biologist and a UCLA marine biologist who authored a report on the feasibility of the refuge traveled to Sacramento to testify before the two committees.

The proposed 4 1/2-mile-long marine refuge is significantly smaller than the one Malibu officials originally sought. The initial plan included a ban on commercial fishing along all 27 miles of city coastline, making it one of the biggest marine preserves in the state.

Commercial fishing groups protested that the sanctuary would unfairly cut them off, and local legislators told the City Council that they could not support such an extensive plan without more scientific data.

In January, the council approved the smaller version of the refuge that is being considered in Sacramento.