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Dan Bacher commentary: Prominent biologist challenges MLPA science panel assumptions and data

Posted by: Maven on December 24, 2009 at 7:24 am

From Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org, this commentary:

“Patrick Higgins, Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Commissioner and a well respected fishery biologist, is questioning the assumptions and poor data that the “science” behind Governor Arnold Schwarzengger’s fast-track Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process is based on.

In a December 20 letter to a biologist on the MLPA Science Advisory Team, Higgins challenged the spacing guidelines and fundamental assumptions regarding the larval drift model, a model in which ocean groundfish populations are supposedly replenished by the larval fish that drift outside of marine reserves by means of ocean currents.

“The lengthy theoretical discussion of larval drift at your Eureka December 17 SAT meeting had absolutely no foundation,” said Higgins. “As pointed out by one of the SAT members, the currents of the North Coast are strong and unique and the linear distance model has no basis here.”

He also says that Marine Protected Area (MPA) size guidelines used previously in the MLPA process are “not appropriate” for the North Coast.

“We in the North Coast region prefer fewer large MPAs and believe they are more likely to achieve the conservation objectives of the MLPA,” said Higgins. “Small preserves would not succeed in protecting fish populations because of migration of adults out of the MPA and fishing edge effects.” … “

Read more of Dan Bacher’s commentary from IndyBay.org by clicking here.

December 24, 2009 · Filed Under Oceans & Beaches

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