Terre Dunivant San Luis Obispo Mar 24, 2007 18:06 pm

Hello --

Here on California's central coast, the fishing industry is under great pressure from declining stocks and increasing restrictions. The Nature Conservancy has purchased several boats from people in Morro Bay, where I serve on a grant committee for the MB National Estuary Program. In reviewing a request to support fishermen and encourage less destructive fishing practices, we discussed providing steel weights in exchange for lead. Does anyone have experience with this? Also interested in hearing about any programs aimed at keeping fishermen working while their industry changes. I'd like to see underemployed fishermen hired to do water quality sampling or fishery maintenance -- something within their experience that actively moves the industry towards sustainability.

Thanks
Terre

Terre Dunivant
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