In California, the sardine s demise is part of our history but not a lone example. Squid and rockfish now are exploited at unsustainable rates due to inadequate understanding of their natural productivity and poor management practices. Drag nets, used to catch rockfish and other bottom dwellers, devastate large areas of ocean floor. Small or unwanted fish and invertebrates by-catch often exceed the amount of marketable fish caught. And this year, PRBO biologists have documented seabirds dying in long lines set near the Farallon Islands.
Many questions remain unanswered about the natural processes that affect marine productivity.
A sound proposal is to establish marine reserves where fishing and other forms of disturbance are prohibited no-take zones. Marine preserves that protect whole ecosystems and biodiversity also spawn ecotourism, non-consumptive recreation, and education. Imagine a no-take zone radiating just ten miles out from the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, the largest and most diverse seabird and sea lion colony south of Alaska. With the collapse of fisheries worldwide, marine reserves represent one of our few real options for improved marine management. PRBO is working to promote this approach among scientists, fishermen, and the public.