Beyond ocean access
Recommendations for California Ocean Protection Council’s 30x30 Draft Decision-Making Framework for Coastal Waters
by: Anupa Asokan
Anglers fishing in the fog on a Southern California pier. Photo credit: A. Asokan
Does ocean access really count if the beaches you can get to are polluted, unwelcoming and devoid of life? While most people think about the importance of getting to the coast when talking about access, at Fish On, we take this a step further and advocate for equitable access quality. From reaching the coast safely and easily to healthy ecosystems and clean water once you’re there—we believe a positive ocean experience should be accessible to all. This goal should underpin decision-making related to ocean conservation so that everyone can benefit, especially those who have been marginalized from ocean use and management.
For anglers and spearfishers, this means fully protected marine protected areas—MPAs that do not allow fishing or industrial uses—may be a necessary tool to restore the quality of fishing access elsewhere. As a fishing community, we can invest in special places through MPAs by allowing them to recover and adapt to climate change. These areas can be a meaningful way for communities to connect and interact with the ocean and witness what a healthy and thriving marine environment should and could be. The overflowing benefits of the places we choose to protect then, should also flow back to local communities, particularly recreational and subsistence fishing communities.
For everyone who visits the ocean to connect with nature, this means the opportunity to visit healthy marine environments, including protected ecosystems. Water quality, ocean conditions, educational opportunities, facilities and other elements that contribute to the coastal experience must be considered.
In California, the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) recently released its 30x30 Draft Decision-Making Framework for Coastal Waters—an ocean-specific guide to how the state will reach its goal to conserve 30 percent of land and water by the year 2030 (30x30). The state’s 30x30 target is significant because beyond the opportunity to protect nature, it also recognizes the importance of our connection to nature. While the science guidance in OPC’s draft framework was strong and meaningful, the access components would benefit considerably from a more holistic view of access and access quality. Fish On, with our friends in the surfing and ocean justice communities, made a series of recommendations for an ocean access framework.
To benefit anglers and spearfishers, we would love to see the consideration of recreational take only buffer zones along the borders of fully protected areas. This draws on published science that shows how this arrangement can actually make the fully protected MPA more effective, and allows those that invest in special places to directly benefit. We also asked OPC to consider siting MPAs where the benefits can better support access quality for those that rely on the ocean to feed their families. This consideration could help low-income fishing communities have access to better quality fish from piers and jetties along California’s coast.
See our recommendations here and stay tuned as we track progress towards 30x30 in California.
