LAST EDITED ON Jul-11-01 AT 07:40 PM (PST)

Movement of the Coal Oil Point Reserve is one of my nine different alternatives that I've presented to Paul Reilly and from everything I've read so far I feel it is the best one. I think an effort to get the Coal Oil Point MPR (and subsequently the Naples Conservation Area) moved up the coast 1/2 mile (or whatever the distance is from Goleta Pier to Campus Point) is by far the best solution - and probably the most likely to be approved - especially if we all join forces and get behind this idea. Here are some arguments we can use:

1) Impact of a complete fishing closure in the cove will be much more detrimental to the public and anglers who have enjoyed that area thier entire lives than the same distance of coastline to the west of Coal Oil Point.

2) The area to the west of Coal Oil Point is probably a better area to close to fishing from the view of the conservationalist than the flat sandy cove that primarily attracts only halibut and the occasional seabass.

3) The area in square miles of closure will be exactly the same - just moved slightly.

I feel the second best alternative is also one you mentioned but it is a little more confusing. Move the Coal Oil Point MPR as mentioned above, chop off the eastern 1/2 mile of the Naples Conservation Area and apply it to the area between Goleta Pier and Campus Point. Like Brian mentioned recreational fishing will still be allowed in the Conservation Area but limited and bag limits will be smaller (fine with me as I'd rather keep nothing and continue to fish there than not fish there at all).

If this is the area we are going to target to try and get them to change I think we should really try to join forces and act together to get this thing implemented. First thing we need to know is the exact distance from Goleta Pier to Campus Point so we can tell them exactly how far the Reserve needs to be moved. Another thing we should do that would fuel or attack would be to find out what the environment is like to the west of Coal Oil Point. If it is a better environment for fish and invertabrates than the cove and we can somehow prove it or find someone to prove it that would probably be all the ammunition we would need.

If anyone who has not written their letters yet agrees with either one of these plans please include it in your letter as an alternate idea. It seems they are open to alternatives that benefit us and them.

"SAVE OUR COVE!"

***********************

You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today - please practice catch and release.