5 minute read
News Briefs
WORLD NEWS news briefs
By: Katherine M. Clements
LOCAL Port of San Diego Invites Public to Pepper Park Design Workshop
SAN DIEGO— The Port of San Diego has announced its enhanced efforts for public access and recreation on the National City Bayfront by inviting the public to continue to engage in the process to transform Pepper Park into a resource that visitors and residents will appreciate for many years. KTU & A, a planning and landscape architect is acting as the port’s design consultant and the port, will host a virtual community Design Workshop on March 26, at 6 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to view and provide input on three conceptual plans for Pepper Park and its future 2.5-acre expansion based on prior public outreach efforts. Participants will be asked what elements they like in each of the three concepts. The feedback received will be incorporated into one idea that the public will have the opportunity to review and provide feedback on during a second design workshop later in the spring. The workshop will be conducted via Zoom and will be available in Spanish, Tagalog, and English. To learn more and to register for the Pepper Park Design Workshop, and/or to sign up for email updates about the National City Bayfront, visit portofsandiego.org/ nationalcitybayfront.
STATE/NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL CARB Will Meet Again to Discuss Proposed Engine Regulations
CALIFORNIA— CARB is set to tentatively reconvene from March 24-25 to discuss the proposed engine regulations for commercial passenger vessels. The last meeting hosted by CARB was on Jan. 12 to address public comments in regard to the proposed amendments and regulations. The Mach 24 meeting is expected to conclude the ongoing discussion amongst CPV owners and CARB, but an agenda has not yet been released. In addition, the meeting has the possibility of being moved to April. Currently, the March 24 meeting is a webinar scheduled for 9 a.m., and 5 p.m. on March 25. To stay up to date with meeting agendas and dates, please visit the CARB website.
Commercial Crab Fishing Violations Are on The Rise
CALIFORNIA— Wildlife officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Marine Enforcement Division have noticed a change in the number of commercial Dungeness crab cases in north coast waters since December 2021.
Since Dec. 9, 2021, there have been five cases from Crescent City and two in Eureka regarding possession of undersized crabs by commercial crab fishermen. The most common violation has been the commercial harvest of undersized crabs during this period. Commercial Dungeness crab fishermen are expected to measure their entire catch and keep only crabs equal to or greater than six and one-quarter inches, which is slightly more than the required five and three-fourths width required of recreational crabbers. In addition, there is a provision in the law to authorize possession of no more than one percent of the catch to be undersized.
In all seven cases, citations were written, the loads were seized, and the proceeds from the sales of the crab were directed to the Wildlife Preservation Fund until the cases are adjudicated in court. In the seven cases, 575 undersized crabs were collectively discovered during inspections. The seized illegal loads ranged from 8 to 24 percent undersized, making them gross violations of the one percent undersized Dungeness crab allowance. During the investigations, wildlife officers discovered evidence that some boat crews had attempted to avoid wildlife officers at the dock and had possibly dumped a load of short crabs. In addition, one of the cited violators had been recently warned by wildlife officers for possession of crabs whose length came up short. Commercial and recreational crabbers must carry a measuring device to ensure all Dungeness crab meet the minimum size limit of six and one-quarter inches for commercial harvest and five and three-quarter inches for recreational harvest. The crab should be measured by the shortest distance through the body from the edge of the shell to the edge of the shell directly in front of and excluding the points (lateral spines).
While there has been an observed uptick in the number of commercial crab violations, CDFW commends much of the commercial Dungeness crab fleet for complying with the rules governing the fishery and their significant efforts to reduce the risk of whale and sea turtle entanglements.
Empty Boat Left Drifting Leads to Discovery of Dead Body
POINT REYES— On Feb. 25, a body was found off the coast of California near Point Reyes National Seashore after crews investigated an empty 42-foot fishing boat drifting in the water with no captain or crew, the Coast Guard told news outlets. A man’s body was found unresponsive in the water on Feb. 25 and was taken to the county coroner; his identity has not been released. The beach was shut down upon the discovery of the drifting boat found with no captain on board. Officials still do not know if the body found was ever onboard the empty drifting boat. The Point Reyes National Park Service is working closely with USCG Station Bodega Bay, and Marin County Sheriff’s Office and consulting with NOAA’s Cordell Bank Marine Sanctuary.
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