I am writing in fervent support of the plan for a Point Dume Marine Protected Area (MPA). As a lifelong surfer and father of three children who basically grew up in the waves of Point Dume, I don’t come by this support lightly. I am not a knee-jerk environmentalist. I have, however, noticed a considerable drop in the variety of sea life in the waters surrounding our beloved point over the past 16 years. My anecdotal evidence has been substantiated by many recent scientific studies.
There are over 400 so-called ‘dead zones’ in our oceans now worldwide, with one study reporting that these zones are doubling in number every decade. Granted, dead zones are not caused by overfishing, but it should give one pause to think of the perils that face our oceans and the dwindling of fish reserves everywhere. An area twice the size of Texas in the northern Pacific is now called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch because of the swirling untold millions of tons of plastic, discarded fishing nets and other assorted detritus that is killing marine life at heretofore unseen levels.
I don’t eat fowl or mammals, but I must confess a fondness for seafood of all types. But given the levels of mercury and other toxins found in most fish and shellfish these days, I don’t think giving up a few locally caught halibut is a bad idea.
Of course the main impetus behind a local MPA is to allow time for the population of our Pacific fauna to rebound and flourish without interference from hook and barb. Hopefully, while that happens, we can lick mercury fallout and eliminate other environmental hazards to our aquatic neighbors and ourselves. Then I can go back to enjoying my salmon teriyaki.
Let’s give it the best shot we’ve got. Clearly the course we’ve been on leads us straight into the rocks. Let’s steer those fishing boats away from the Point. Let’s take our rods, reels, and spears elsewhere and see what happens.
Richard Gibbs