THE AMERICAN CETACEAN SOCIETY/LOS ANGELES CHAPTER INVITES ALL MEMBERS AND WELCOMES THE GENERAL PUBLIC
TO THIS MONTH’S MEETING ON TUES., MARCH 26, 2002 AT 7:30 P.M.
AT THE CABRILLO MARINE AQUARIUM:
Protect California's Ocean Environment
by
Jesse C. Swanhuyser
Long time Southern California divers claim that they see only 10% of the fish they saw just 15 Years ago. A report released by the American Fisheries Society states that 82 marine fish are Nearing extinction. From plankton to whale, the oceans need help. Come find out how to restore and protect local sea life. This is a rare opportunity to learn more about one of the fastest growing ideas in the world of ocean protection- marine protected areas. Our speaker will be Jesse C Swanhuyser of Local Ocean Network, Southern California. Mr. Swanhuyser is a diver, fisher, and dedicated ocean advocate. Join us for some amazing underwater photography and straightforward information about the health and future of California's ocean environment. See the world beneath the waves, and inform yourself about an important issue for every coastal person.
For more than one hundred years citizens of this country have worked hard to ensure that special places on land receive the protection necessary to pass on parts of our natural heritage to the children. Thanks to folks like you, today about 4% of US land is set aside in perpetuity as part of US National Parks. For those of us who want to pass on our favorite ocean places, the situation is very different. Less than 1/10 of 1% of US waters receive meaningful protection, placing the future of many coastal places, plants, and animals in jeopardy. Poor land use, pollution, climate change, and over exploitation have taken a heavy toll on California's ocean environment. Those of us who live on the coast have seen these changes in the last 20 years. Now is the time to reverse this trend.
Marine Protected Areas (MPA's) work like parks, wilderness areas, or land use plans so that local communities can decide what they want for the future of their most treasured coastal places. MPA's provide outstanding opportunities for compatible recreation like diving, surfing, and kayaking. They have proven successful in oceans all over the world. In addition to restoring and protected the plants and animals within their boundaries, MPA's export fish, re-seeding areas nearby. MPA's offer a rare chance to help depleted fish species, and protect whole ocean ecosystems.
The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is located at 3720 Stephen M. White Drive in San Pedro. ACS/LA general meetings are free and are held on the last Tuesday of the month. For an update on the speaker or information about ACS/LA, call (310) 548-8500, or visit our website at www.acs-la.org
Come and meet our speaker in the relaxed surroundings of the Baja Cabana restaurant at our no-host dinner before the meeting. Dinner is at 6 p.m., at 1622 S. Gaffey St. (at 17th St.) in San Pedro. (310) 833-9765.