[Water_news] 3. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: WATERSHEDS - 11/5/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

November 5, 2008

 

3. Watersheds –

 

 

Opinion: Oceans are an urgent item for the next president

San Jose Mercury News – 11/5/08

By Pietro Parravano

Pietro Parravano is a salmon fisherman from Half Moon Bay, president of the Institute for Fisheries Resources and commissioner for the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative.

There was a time not long ago when coastal communities from Alaska to Maine enjoyed the rich heritage and prosperity of a thriving fishing industry. As a young fisherman growing up in Half Moon Bay, I witnessed some of the most plentiful salmon fishing the West Coast had ever seen.

 

It saddens me to say those days have passed. Pollution, mismanagement, loss of habitat and new threats from climate change have severely damaged not only my livelihood, but also the amount of seafood on your dinner table.

 

All hope is not lost at sea, however. Despite the countless abuses our waters have endured over the past few decades, oceans are surprisingly resilient and can recover. With proper oversight, guided by strong science and adequate funding, the United States can ensure that our oceans continue to provide valuable resources not only for us, but also for our grandchildren.

 

After a long period of neglect, oceans are returning to the forefront of policymakers' minds.

 

President Bush recently addressed the ocean community to celebrate the opening of the Smithsonian's Ocean Hall in Washington, D.C. He commended the Smithsonian and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for educating the public, and he acknowledged my work with salmon fisheries here in California, emphasizing that even ordinary citizens like me can have an impact.

 

The president's address and the opening of the Ocean Hall demonstrate strong national momentum for better ocean management. This momentum also exists on the regional and state levels. Recently, Govs. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ted Kulongoski (Oregon) and Chris Gregoire (Washington) released the action plan of the West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health. Additionally, Massachusetts recently passed a groundbreaking plan that requires state leaders to coordinate coastline management.

 

With a national movement in place, it is up to the new White House leadership to keep it going. We have a long road ahead of us.

 

First, we must better understand the challenges. No one knows definitively what caused the decline in the California salmon population. Most biologists see a combination land-based pollution, water diversions, damaged habitat and ocean conditions. To revitalize our fisheries, we must look deeper. Federally supported research and maintenance of ocean monitoring systems are key to understanding the connections between land and sea.

 

Increasing public awareness is also critical, which is why the Smithsonian's Ocean Hall is a stellar accomplishment. Many Americans are aware of the decline in our nation's fisheries. However, many don't recognize how ocean conditions and land-based pollution affect the entire nation, from the food we eat to the beaches we enjoy to the economy upon which we depend. Ocean-related industries generate $138 billion for the United States every year. Saving our oceans and fisheries is a bigger task than any one state or region can accomplish. The problems are symptoms of an unbalanced ecosystem and are urgent calls for coordinated and well-funded action at the state, regional and national level.

 

All of us have a duty to be good stewards of our oceans. The Smithsonian Ocean Hall, the West Coast Governors' plan and the Massachusetts Oceans Act are a good start. And as a fisherman, I urge the next administration to continue this momentum and make this collaborative, bipartisan effort a success. #

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_10897720

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