Board Won’t Oppose New Marine Reserves

Ventura County supervisors will not oppose creation of new marine reserves around the fish-depleted Channel Islands.

The Ventura County Fish and Game Commission had asked the board to take a stand against a plan under consideration by the state to protect fish in a 1,252-nautical-acre swath in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

But supervisors voted 4 to 0 against the request, suggesting instead that further research is needed.

Supervisor Frank Schillo was absent.

Conservationists and anglers agree new restrictions are needed, but disagree on the scope of those restrictions. Environmentalists support a “no-take zone” that would ban all fishing expeditions. Fishermen say that would cripple their business and support smaller versions of the banned zones.