Times Staff Writer Fishermen in the San Quintin area are concerned about what effect the proposed tourist development might have on their livelihoods. Braced against the sea like a protective forearm, the dune-covered peninsula corrals a bay teeming with natural wonders. In one direction, a wayward whale looses a spout of mist. In another, clouds of geese, Pacific black brant, streak above the surface.
Sea lions pop shiny heads from shallows charged electric blue in the noon sun.
Local lore has it that 19th century sailors cruising the Baja California coast named this spot False Bay after falling victim to its deceptively shallow waters. The debate is considered by many the most important wetlands issue in Baja California because of the spot's unspoiled beauty, known mostly to outdoors enthusiasts from Southern California. The matter is fast coming to a head, with a crucial decision on whether the project can proceed expected within 90 days. Tourism accommodations in the region of 40,000 have been limited mainly to waterfront lodges for hunters, sport fishermen and other hardy travelers. False Bay and a twin waterway form what is known as San Quintin Bay.