Rarely are do we have enough historical information to track a local sport fishery over a significant time span. At Arena Cove, however, three creel survey studies of the skiff fishery have been conducted by the Department of Fish and Game since 1959. Arena Cove is located in a rural area about 100 miles north of San Francisco and about 50 miles south of Fort Bragg. It's a small port, active mainly during summer, when tourism peaks and southwesterly swells don't. A relatively small but productive skiff fishery operates there. Data from creel surveys in 1959, 1972, and 1980-86 provide a perspective of how fishing activity may affect the resource and fishing success.
The data show how species composition and abundance in the catch, and likely also in nearby rocky marine habitats, have changed over the years, presumably due mainly to fishing. The average number of fish caught per angler-day (defined as one person fishing all or part of one day) decreased from 9.0 in 1959 to 3.1 in 1980-86. To put those numbers in perspective, skiff catches from Fort Bragg to Fort Ross averaged about 4 fish per day in 1959, and also in the early 1980s. The initially high catch rates at Arena Cove may be due to its remoteness and consequent low fishing pressure. Not all species have declined equally at Arena Cove. Catches of blue rockfish, black rockfish, canary rockfish, and lingcod have changed relatively little, while catches of copper rockfish, vermilion rockfish, china rockfish, yelloweye ("turkey-red") rockfish, kelp greenling, and cabezon have decreased greatly. Some of the species that decreased are regarded by anglers as "trophy" species (e.g., vermilion rockfish, yelloweye rockfish). In 1959, eight different species comprised 85% of the catch, but by 1980-86, only three species comprised 85% of the catch. Thus not only have the numbers of fish decreased, but the diversity or variety of fish appears to have decreased as well. More limited data from other small northern California ports show a similar situation, except initial catch rates weren't as high. Most popular nearshore bottomfishing species are slow growing, long-lived, and nonmigratory, and are thus susceptible to being "fished out" on reefs near ports. A notable exception is lingcod, which grows quickly compared to the rockfishes, and is somewhat migratory. However it isn't totally clear why some species are more resilient to fishing pressure than others. As biologists charged with protecting fishery resources, we become very concerned when we see data like these. However, depending on the "price" of restoring species abundance and diversity (e.g., smaller bag limits, closed areas, or closed seasons), the situation may be acceptable to some members of the public and not to others. Much public opposition to siting a marine reserve near Arena Cove was voiced. It is very important that you communicate the direction you wish fishery management to take to the Department and the Fish and Game Commission. -DA
Back to Kelp Forest Contents.