## F9 TO UPDATE TOC! {#f9-to-update-toc .Appendix-H2 .unnumbered}

Appendix D7 Implement an Entanglement Reduction and Outreach Program to
Protect Seabird Populations

D7.1 Goals and Nexus to Injury D[7-1](#goals-and-nexus-to-injury)

D7.2 Background D[7-1](#background)

D7.3 Project Description and Methods
D[7-1](#project-description-and-methods)

D7.4 Environmental Benefits and Impacts
D[7-2](#environmental-benefits-and-impacts)

D7.4.1 Biological D[7-2](#biological)

D7.4.2 Physical D[7-2](#physical)

D7.4.3 Human Use D[7-2](#human-use)

D7.5 Likelihood of Success/Feasibility
D[7-3](#likelihood-of-successfeasibility)

D7.6 Performance Criteria and Monitoring
D[7-3](#performance-criteria-and-monitoring)

D7.7 Evaluation D[7-3](#evaluation)

D7.8 Estimated Budget D[7-3](#estimated-budget)

Table

D7-1 Estimated Budget for Entanglement Reduction and Outreach Program

Appendix D7

Implement an Entanglement Reduction and Outreach Program to Protect
Seabird Populations

# Implement an Entanglement Reduction and Outreach Program to Protect Seabird Populations

## Goals and Nexus to Injury

The goal of this action is to benefit the California brown pelican and
other seabirds by reducing injuries from fish hooks and entanglement in
fishing line. Hooking by anglers and entanglement in fishing line are
factors affecting the survival of California brown pelicans. Eggshell
thinning and elevated levels of DDT have been documented in California
brown pelican eggs in the Southern California Bight (SCB) (Kiff 1994,
Fry 1994). Section 5.1.1 provides a detailed description of the seabird
nexus to the injuries of the Montrose case.

## Background

Most avid recreational anglers have interacted with seabirds while
fishing along the California coast. Seabirds may eat the same fishes
being targeted by anglers or may be attracted to bait at the end of
fishing lines. As a result, seabirds can accidentally be hooked or
entangled. An entanglement situation is not resolved when the line
breaks and the seabird flies away. Both hooks and broken lines injure
and kill seabirds. Hooks that penetrate the birds' hollow bones can lead
to infection, and broken lines can wrap around legs, wings, or beaks and
result in death due to starvation or the inability to fly or swim.

Although seabird entanglements can occur during any type of recreational
fishing activity, conflicts most often arise at piers where large
numbers of bait fishes concentrate. This concentration attracts both
anglers and the seabirds that primarily feed on bait fishes, such as
California brown pelicans. An example of this conflict occurred in 2001
at the Santa Cruz City Pier in Northern California. Nearly 200 brown
pelicans with hooks or line entanglements were rescued, and 59 of those
died or had to be euthanized due to the severity of their injuries. Many
other injured birds could not be rescued. Due to the severity of the
problem, the City of Santa Cruz and the California Department of Fish
and Game (CDFG) closed two-thirds of the city's pier to fishing for
several weeks.

## Project Description and Methods

This action involves expanding the American Trader Trustee Council
(ATTC) Seabird Entanglement Education and Outreach Program to the
fishing piers and wharves in Southern California where entanglement has
occurred. The goal of the program is to provide information in the form
of brochures, signs, and wildlife guides that heightens public awareness
about the potential hazards to the California brown pelican and other
seabird species that are vulnerable to being hooked by fishing tackle or
entangled by monofilament line. This action would adopt the designs and
materials from the ATTC program and modify them slightly. The program
would produce a minimum of ten signs that would be placed at key areas
in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The signs would educate anglers
about ways to avoid hooking birds and what to do if one is hooked. The
specific locations where the signs would be installed would be
identified during project implementation.

In addition to educational signs, the program would produce a brochure
designed to educate anglers about measures to avoid and minimize impacts
to seabirds from fishing lines and human disturbance. The ATTC has
produced a brochure of this type for Southern California. By using
existing products that have been developed for Southern California, the
Natural Resource Trustees for the Montrose case (Trustees) would be able
to reduce the initial design costs for the signs and brochures.

## Environmental Benefits and Impacts

### Biological

#### Benefits

The use of signs and brochures would help promote public awareness and
thus reduce bird injuries and deaths. The seabirds that would benefit
from this action include California brown pelicans, cormorants, and
gulls. A successful outreach program would aid in the ongoing recovery
of the endangered California brown pelican by reducing a source of
injury and mortality to the species.

#### Impacts

Because this action involves public outreach and education, the Trustees
do not anticipate any impacts to biological resources. There would be no
adverse effects to California brown pelicans from the action.

### Physical

#### Benefits

This program would provide information on the proper disposal of fishing
line. A reduction in fishing line debris would provide benefits to the
marine environment.

#### Impacts

This action would not have negative impacts to the physical environment.

### Human Use

#### Benefits

The proper handling and disposal of fishing line would result in
improved health and safety because discarded hooks can injure humans as
well as wildlife. Humans are also at risk of injury when attempting to
disentangle a hook or line from a seabird. A reduction in seabird/angler
interaction would result in improved recreation, as hooking seabirds is
a frustrating and unwelcome experience for anglers. The proper disposal
of fishing line would also enhance the aesthetics of the fishing
structure and vicinity.

#### Impacts

Because this action focuses on education rather than fishing
restrictions, no negative impacts would occur to human use. Minor
impacts could result to aesthetics depending on the design, size, and
placement of signs. The design of the signs would likely be adopted from
the design developed and employed by the ATTC. The signs would be placed
in consultation with appropriate local authorities in such a way as to
minimize any impacts to the aesthetics of the surrounding area.

## Likelihood of Success/Feasibility

Education and awareness programs, including display signs and brochures,
nearly always attract public attention. Successful public educational
programs instill knowledge and appreciation of the subject considered.
Informational and warning signs to protect seabirds have a high
probability of reducing detrimental human behaviors in the targeted
outreach areas.

## Performance Criteria and Monitoring

Public feedback and reaction would be the primary means of monitoring
the success of educational activities. To be effective over time, this
program would require the periodic updating and replacement of outreach
materials.

## Evaluation

California brown pelican survival is affected by factors such as
entanglement in fishing line and hooking by anglers. The Trustees have
evaluated this action against all screening and evaluation criteria
developed to select restoration actions and have concluded that this
action is consistent with these selection factors.

## Estimated Budget

Table D7-1 shows the estimated cost of implementing an entanglement
reduction and outreach program.

  --------------------------------- -------------------------------------
  Table D7-1\                       
  Estimated Budget for Entanglement 
  Reduction and Outreach Program    

  Item                              Estimated Cost

  Signs (10)                        

  Design modification               \$1,400

  Signs                             \$3,600

  Posts and brackets                \$8,000

  Sign assembly                     \$1,000

  *Subtotal*                        *\$14,000*

  Brochures                         

  Design modification               \$1,500

  Printing                          \$4,000

  Content writer/editor             \$2,500

  *Subtotal*                        *\$8,000*

  **Total**                         **\$22,000**
  --------------------------------- -------------------------------------