I would urge everyone who has a strong opinion on the seal thing to think something through. I know, the first reaction, mine as well, is to say its about the agenda of wacko environmentalists placing animals' rights over people. The same agenda that has led to the MLPA and absolute looney "species management" that is actually anti fishing legislation built on messed up moral judgement. Believe me, I see the point here. Mother Nature ceded the SoCal coast to human use a long time ago, protecting seal access in a developed area is pretty silly. Yes, if dissuaded from living there they will find more appropriate alternatives., which do exist.
But, I am from New Jersey and for the angler there, ACCESS is everything. When I look at this debate I see wealthy home owners who dont like traffic, crowds, noise. And thats it; wealth and power driving a local political agenda. If you asked me to be completly objective without the enviro angle, sometimes I think its fare to say its a farce that this beach needs to be reserved for "children". There are MILES of beaches in San Diego; pick another to play frisbee. La Jolla shores is right down the road.
I see both sides of this though. And while I would support fighting the ridiculous agenda of the enviros, be VERY CAREFUL about what money and power can do as well.
Today they dont like the traffic and crowds the seals bring, tomorrow they will object to some aspect, real or imagined, of fishing activities and then we will be on the chopping block. This was the case year in and year out in NJ. Some trash on the beach? No more parking allowed! Couple of hooks on the rocks? No fishing signs go up. All to protect the privacy of the little enclaves of the rich and connected. It was a travesty. I was threatened with police once for LOOKING at a lake in a "private" community in NJ, told I was trespassing. A naturally occuring lake no less, not a product of a dam!!
Remember, look at how the MLPA process went, most or all of the actual worthwhile aspects of it were stripped: polution, development and runoff management. What emerged was the enviro victory over the weakest target, rec fishing. The commercial interests and their $$$ got their way.
Im not saying lets all hug the seals, but think about how enabling the agenda of local wealth can lead to curtailed public access and use of shore fishing locations, launch spots, parking, etc.
Now I will duck and cover
03-10-2011, 02:42 PM
Hybrid Mode
