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

December 26, 2003

Jane De Lay
Director of Policy
Save Our Shores
345 Lake Avenue, Suite A
Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Dear Jane:

We are writing to advise you that we have decided to advise our members not to participate any further in the “Fishermen’s Straight Talk Sessions”. With Save Our Shores having announced its “Road to Reserves” campaign, we can’t help but think that no matter what occurs in our discussion with the science community, it will not affect the position of Save Our Shores. So why do this in this context? It does appear that Save Our Shores has embraced the position of a few other environmental advocacy groups that the creation of large and many marine reserves is an obviously good thing for the environment.

If Save Our Shores is committed to this position, it will fail to comprehend that in fact, science shows that there is potential for marine reserves to actually create a net harmful effect on the marine eco-system. This is because marine reserves simply transfer fishing effort. One area of the ocean may be “saved” while quite possibly causing over-fishing in the neighboring areas. Where is the wisdom in this? We need good management of the whole ocean! And, as you probably noticed at the meeting, scientists are not in agreement as to the need for marine reserves.

We do want to see a dialogue be created between key members of the science community and working fishermen. Because of that, we will attempt to arrange several meeting times and places where this might happen. The difference will be that it will not be in the context of the “Road to Reserves” campaign, something which frankly seems to be an oxymoron with the critical thinking utilized by science.

We would value working with Save our Shores if the effort is to look objectively at the pros and cons of marine reserves as a fishing management and/or conservation tool. And please recognize that our organization does not have an “anti-marine reserve” position. We just think that a fruitful and objective dialog will get run over in the Save Our Shores “Road to Reserves” campaign.

On behalf of the ACSF Board of Directors,

Mike Ricketts, Co-Chair, ACSF, 659-2838

Kathy Fosmark, Co-Chair, ACSF, 373-5238

Supporting Associations & Organizations
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association
Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Monterey Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Fishermen’s Association of Moss Landing
Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Fishermen’s Alliance
Western Fishboat Owners Association
Ventura County Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters
Golden Gate Fishermen's Association
Port San Luis Harbor District
City of Morro Bay Harbor
City of Monterey Harbor
Moss Landing Harbor District
Santa Cruz Port District
Pillar Pt. Harbor, San Mateo County Harbor District