Voluntary
"No Take" Zones
(CLOSED TO BOTTOMFISHING - Click on Zone Map
for More Details)
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to Bottomfish Recovery Program Home Page
A Brief History
of the Program
In March
of 1996, the San Juan County Board of Commissioners, responding
to public concern, identified a series of marine resource problems
and appointed the Marine Resources Committee (MRC) to look into
possible solutions. Bottomfish recovery was identified as a top
priority. In San Juan County, "bottomfish" can be equated
with resident species of rockfish, Lingcod, and Cabezon. The most
common are the Quillback, Copper, and the Black rockfish. By comparing
fished and protected areas, it is possible to show with some certainty
that depletion of these bottomfish is due mainly to human fishing
pressure and not to predation or pollution. In protected areas,
where fishing does not occur but there is still predation or pollution,
individual resident bottomfish grow larger and varying species of
bottomfish that were not there before move in.
The MRC held
public meetings on each of the major islands to identify sites
that are now fished out, but were once very productive. From this
input, eight sites were selected for protection and recovery.
Signage
Significant
landmarks and signs indicating direction will indicate the zone
extent on the shoreline. "No Take" refers to all marine
life forms, with the exception of salmon. The zones all extend from
the shoreline to 1/4 mile offshore.
How Does It
Work?
The Marine
Reserve areas include the VOLUNTARY bottomfish "No Take"
zones. These zones can benefit bottomfish populations by insuring
that a portion of the fish population is sheltered for reproduction.
They will also replenish fished areas, since larvae and juvenile
fish are free to move outside the protected reserve areas. The drawing
below shows how this can happen. Bottomfish stocks are in trouble
in Washington State and fishery managers, as well as the public,
are aware that these long-lived fish need a place where they can
mature and reproduce. Larger, older female fish produce 200 times
more eggs than smaller, younger females. Bottomfish recovery areas
are essential to solve our bottomfish problems.
It is important to remember that these areas
are VOLUNTARY "No Take" zones. This fishery enhancement
program will succeed only through the goodwill of fishers who realize
the value of allowing spawners to survive in protected areas. The
Edmonds Underwater Park, north of Seattle, is a good example of
a successful MPA which has worked to increase the number and size
of fish inside the park.
How You Can
Help
- Respect
the bottomfish recovery areas as identified on the map. The
fish you save today will help ensure that we have bottomfish
in the future.
- Help
support our program. We, of the MRC, are all volunteers trying
to do something about marine resource problems in our county.
Your donation and comments to the MRC at the address below will
help us to continue this important project. Please contact us
for more information.
Zone Map Details
ZONE 7 - GULL ROCK
Located
on the northwest side of Flattop Island. The entire shoreline
of Gull Rock is zoned. Round marker is located on top of rock.
Back
to Zone Map
ZONE 8 - BARE ISLAND
Located north of Waldron
Island. The entire shoreline of Bare Island is zoned. Round marker
is located on top of the island.
Back
to Zone Map
ZONE 1- LAWRENCE
POINT
Located on the east
side of Orcas Island. Zoned on northeast running from the point
northwesterly to the round marker (1500 yards).
Back
to Zone Map
ZONE 6 - KELLETT
BLUFF
Located on the southwest
side of Henry Island. Zoned from navigation light on bluff northerly
to the round marker (800 yards).
Back
to Zone Map
ZONE 2 - BELL
ISLAND
Located at the east
end of Wasp Passage. Zoned on east side the round marker on the
north end, southerly to the reef (300 yards).
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to Zone Map
ZONE 5-LIMEKILN
LIGHTHOUSE
Located on the west
side of San Juan Island. Zoned from the lighthouse north to the
round marker and south to a second round marker (300 yards each
direction).
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to Zone Map
ZONE 4 - PILE POINT
Located on the west side of San Juan Island. Zoned
from Pile northwesterly to the round marker (600 yards).
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to Zone Map
ZONE 3 - CHARLES ISLAND
Located at the southwest end of Lopez Island. Zoned
on southwest side, from the west point southeasterly to the round
(600 yards).
Back to Zone
Map
