Aliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries
P O Box 1309, Carmel Valley, CA 93924 (831) 659-2838

March 8, 2002

Bob Eaton, Executive Director
Pacific Marine Conservation Council
P O Box 59
Astoria, OR 97103

Subject: Open Letter to MPA Forum Attendees

Dear Bob:

On behalf of the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries, thank you to you, your staff and the Pacific Marine Conservation Council for hosting the Fishermen's Forum on MPAs. We feel that it is timely to focus on improved communication between all parties and exchange information.
In the spirit of furthering communication on the important topic of MPAs, we would like to share some observations, conclusions, and questions, resulting from our participation in the Forum. The points made in this letter express a wide variety of direct experiences from many people who fish from Santa Barbara to San Francisco. The points raised in this letter reflect our assessments thus far, but we stress that we are in a dynamic process, and the points are areas of concern that require further study. Hopefully this letter will be used as an "open letter" to attendees and other interested NGOs and agencies, and be distributed accordingly.

1. We understand and appreciate that many citizens have a real concern about the condition of the ocean, and we applaud that concern. However, we do have a concern that the marine reserve movement is missing the mark. Many fishermen see marine reserves as an extreme measure that overreacts, to their detriment, rather like trying to keep a child safe by never letting him/her out to play. To some degree the push for marine reserves represents the acceptance of failure - the failure to do the real work of the science of fishery management. To fishermen, marine reserves also represent a desire for the easy solution that is sometimes seen in our society: we want our wars to be quick and painless, our hamburgers fast and cheap, and we tend to love the quick fix. If there are needs in fishery management, marine reserves do not necessarily address the real issues, but may be a band-aid, placed on the wrong wound. We have heard marine reserves referred to as "an insurance policy against our ignorance". Why institutionalize ignorance? Why not provide the resources to understand and properly manage ALL of our ocean areas and resources? The wound that needs treatment is the lack of funding support for the science of fishery management! This is not the scientist's fault. As a specific recommendation, we suggest a new commitment, through all means possible, to obtain this better science and to make sure responsible agencies use it. Had this been the topic at our Fishermen's Forum, there would have been little dissension and great enthusiasm across the board.

2. There is a tendency to portray the entire ocean as in absolute crisis, and fishermen as the cause and as villains. This occurs in the media and we hear it directly from some environmental groups. Each one of these portrayals is a stand-alone premise in the marine reserve movement, and they create their own inner logic. If West Coast fisheries are not in crisis, then why do we need marine reserves - so the assertion of crisis is required. If fishermen are not villains, but low stocks are due to other factors (regime shifts, pollution, predation…), then why do we need marine reserves? Hence "over fishing" as the cause must be asserted to get marine reserves. If a traditional management measure is put in place and is working, that can't be acknowledged because it would cause the need for marine reserves to be questioned. If a particular stock shows low numbers, that is all you ever hear about. If fisherman question the crisis premise, well, they're the villains, aren’t they? So we can't believe them! Marine reserves have become their own end game.
The great majority of fishers are in fact, absolutely committed to fisheries managed in a way that can be sustained for generations to come. We are more a part of the solution than the problem. We would greatly value the cessation of this rhetoric, and are very willing to work cooperatively with the conservation community on real issues. This is what the Alliance is attempting to do by working with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the local conservation and science communities, to formally look at marine reserves. When we are done with that (if ever!), we want to work cooperatively on other issues, such as by-catch, gear modifications, and regulatory reform.
We want to be treated with respect for the knowledge we possess and for our commitment to properly managed fisheries.

CONTINUED