San Diego finally addresses abandoned vessels at Zuniga Jetty

SAN DIEGO—An ordinance aiming to restrict the amount of time a vessel could anchor at the top of San Diego Bay is finally on the books – ending a multiyear campaign to regulate boating activities in a portion of the harbor controlled by City Hall. The ordinance, which amended San Diego’s Municipal Code to restrict open-water boat anchoring near Zuniga Jetty Shoal to two hours, was officially adopted on April 23; City Council members had initially adopted the ordinance at a prior meeting. Ordinances must be approved twice in order to become valid. Abandoned vessels have become a substantial problem at Zuniga Jetty Shoal in recent times. At least 61 vessels were abandoned in the area between November 2010 and September 2017, according to the U.S. Navy, which has a large presence in San Diego Bay. “These abandoned vessels pose a threat to the environment,” city staff stated in a report to council members. “In some cases, there are hazardous materials on board that can spill into the ocean. The Navy shared several examples, including one vessel that broke apart and spilled 200 to 400 gallons of fuel into the water.” City staff cited one case where the Navy’s cleanup of an abandoned boat...