Volunteers Begin Patrolling New No-Fishing Zones

Byline: Taylor Hill On Jan. 1, the California Department of Fish and Game’s new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the Southern California coastline went into effect, shutting down around 354 square miles — or 15 percent — of state waters to recreational and commercial fishing. While anglers work through what areas they can and cannot fish in, the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) begins its job of enforcing the new no-take fishing areas — and it has asked for the help of some citizen-based environmental groups to assist in monitoring certain areas, as well. From shore, ship and even plane, environmental organizations have already started volunteer programs aimed at educating the public about the new no-fishing zones, monitoring all uses of the coast in and outside of marine reserves and, in some cases, calling in violations they believe they have witnessed inside MPAs. Groups such as Heal the Bay Santa Monica and Orange County Coastkeeper have developed training programs for volunteers to become marine reserve watchers, and they are helping Department of Fish and Game wardens who have been assigned to monitor the MPAs as additional new responsibilities. However, Gov. Edmund (Jerry) Brown’s proposed 2012 budget actually proposes broad cuts in the department’s...