From the Editor: Sometimes it feels like all that we post the bad news about the oceans. But there is a purpose: to help Neptune 911′s readers understand the seriousness of how what we do has consequences that negatively affects our seas.
There is a mind change spreading around the globe.
Today’s local newspaper featured this story about success in recharging a local fishery business in a sustainable fashion. Beginning today, Neptune 911 adds “The Good News Page” that highlights positive actions by people and communities to save, improve and help the oceans that we all share.
From the San Luis Obispo Tribune:
Morro Bay honored for working to preserve fishing industry
Bruce Rosenblum unloads king salmon caught by fisherman Nick Voss. The Morro Bay Fish Co. is buying the fish. Salmon season opened May 1.
Morro Bay has received national recognition for its efforts to preserve its historic fishing industry.
The city is one of four coastal governments to receive the 2012 Walter B. Jones Memorial Award for Excellence in Coastal and Ocean Management. The awards are given every two years by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to honor noteworthy contributions to protecting and improving coasts and coastal communities.
“In a time when fisheries quotas are being consolidated and landings funneled to larger ports, it is important to keep Morro Bay a viable working waterfront,” said Andrea Lueker, Morro Bay city manager.
Steps taken by the city and its partners to revitalize the fishing industry include diversifying gear types, experimenting with new gear designs to minimize environmental impacts and forming a Morro Bay Community Quota Fund to set and maintain groundfish quotas on the Central Coast. As a result of these efforts, the value of catches landed in Morro Bay has doubled.
One of the more controversial aspects of the effort was partnering with environmental group The Nature Conservancy, which bought all of Morro Bay’s trawl fishing fleet and permits. Many fishermen were reluctant to work with the group.
“This work has not been easy,” said Michael Bell, marine project director for The Nature Conservancy. “These leaders have faced huge obstacles in their effort to try a new model.”
The city was nominated for the award by Adrienne Harris, executive director of the Morro Bay National Estuary Program. No awards ceremony is planned as a cost-saving measure, Harris said.
Other governments to receive the national honor this year are the Port of Anacortes, Wash.; Naples, Fla.; and Plymouth, N.C.
