Channel Islands marine life in trouble?
submitted by John Kelly

Marine life around the Channel Islands has declined precipitously due to a combination of pollution, environmental change, and too much fishing. This has happened despite the presence of the Channel Islands National Park, which protects only the land area of the islands, and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, which regulates only oil drilling and tanker passage. Local, regional, and national environmental groups have proposed the establishment of a network of marine parks in which ALL extractive activities such as fishing and kelp harvesting would be banned, and which would be subject to stringent water quality protection. Many commercial fishermen strongly oppose this proposal. Express your opinion at an important public hearing to be held in Santa Barbara, CA on January 20, 2000 at 7:00 pm. Please call the Sanctuary for meeting location (805-966-7107). Please contact me for more information.

Rod Fujita
Environmental Defense
5655 College Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
ph: (510) 658-8008
fax: (510) 658-0630
email: Rod_Fujita@edf.org