Officials See Floating Labs as an Anchor for Port Plan

A plan to build a multimillion-dollar aquarium at Channel Islands Harbor has foundered, but county officials are not giving up on their hopes for economic revival: Now they are floating a proposal to make youth-oriented boat trips the cornerstone of a newly vibrant harbor.

At an ocean-side news conference Thursday, local officials unveiled a plan to promote trips on “floating labs.” They described the boats as miniature marine-science laboratories--packed with plankton, microscopes, parents and children.

“The floating lab takes children, adults and others, like teachers with classes, out into the harbor and offers them an interactive class in marine biology,” wrote county Supervisors John K. Flynn and Susan Lacey in a statement announcing the revitalization plan. “It is a fantastic hands-on experience!”

The plans don’t stop there. Hoping to emulate the success of a youth program at Dana Point Harbor in Orange County, Ventura County officials aim to launch a campaign promoting kayaking, sailing and other water sports at Channel Islands Harbor. To oversee all the activity, they want to hire a marketing and activities director.

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The county Board of Supervisors will consider the suggestions Tuesday. While details--such as how much public money would be spent--have not been worked out, Flynn and Lacey want to start building momentum. They think the proposal would help draw tourists to the depressed business district--and appease residents who fear that an aquarium would cause environmental problems.

“This is going to be even more interesting, because people will actually do things,” Flynn said. “It’s not simply looking at fish in a tank.”

The harbor’s depressed business environment has long worried local leaders. Nobody denies the area’s natural beauty, but many shops there are struggling or shuttered.

Several years ago, county leaders--including Flynn--proposed building a harbor-side aquarium there to boost tourism. But the cost--estimates were near $60 million--and community opposition caused them to reconsider.

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The aquarium idea threatened Oxnard beach-area residents, who felt it could cause traffic jams and other problems, said Bill Higgins, general manager of the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District. The plan to promote floating labs and water sports seems much more reasonable, he said.

“The aquarium was brought off a shelf and dropped into the community--and the community reacted very negatively,” Higgins said. “The floating labs are family oriented, smaller scale and still able to attract people from far away.”

The aquarium plan is not officially dead, but Flynn has suggested that it be removed from the harbor’s master plan. Meanwhile, residents have had a chance to discuss the harbor’s future at several recent public meetings. The final meeting takes place next month in Oxnard, said Lyn Krieger, the county’s harbor director.

As part of the revitalization effort, officials are looking to the Dana Point Youth and Group Facility in Orange County. That venue offers boating and rowing classes, tide pool walks and other activities. Its revenues have climbed steadily in the past five years, to nearly $500,000 a year, according to Ventura County officials.

Meanwhile, the floating lab plan is ready to go, officials said. A local businessman has docked his specially equipped boat in Channel Islands Harbor. Flynn and Oxnard Mayor Manuel Lopez said they recently went for rides on it and came away convinced the idea should be heavily promoted.

On board, students--lectured to by graduate oceanography students--would learn to identify rock dwellers, fish and other organisms.

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Officials described the floating lab plan as a “public-private partnership.” They said public money may be used to build a small orientation room for students to gather in before the ride.

The owner of the floating lab business, Frank Ursitti, said he already has taken local teachers out for a trip. Rides cost $400 and can accommodate up to 40 people.

“I think it will be a cornerstone to a marine-based educational facility,” Ursitti said.

“It has the potential to bring a lot of students to the Channel Islands Harbor. It certainly is going to spawn revenue for area merchants.”