Comment Log Display

Dear members of the CARB Board,

I write today to urge you to not adopt the proposed amendments to
the commercial harbor craft regulation.

The sportfishing and whale watching industry, composed of small
businesses, will be irreparably harmed.

This often overlooked industry is actually the catapult to true
conservation and environmental efforts. If it wasn't for these
boats, the vast majority of people would never be exposed to the
beauty of the ocean and all it has to offer. These exposures drive
true change because without them, out of sight, out of mind. It is
difficult to pass conservation legislation when it will be cost
prohibitive for the constituency to actually go out and see and
experience what they are voting on and backing. 

Take for example the Marine Mammal Protection Act, this legislation
continues to have a great deal of support nearly 50 years after
it's passage. I don't think anyone could envision a future time
without that legislation in place. The reason it is supported is
because people are able to go out on whale watching boats and see
first hand the whales dolphins and sea lions. They are better able
to have a connection with these animals when they can see them
first hand. All made possible by sportfishing and whale watching
fleet.

The economic hardship these regulations will cause to the
businesses will undoubtedly put many out of business. Forcing
multigenerational mom and pop companies to close their doors,
simply based on they didn't have $1m+ in capital to buy a new boat
or modify the ones they have. 

The overall impact these boats have on pollution pales in
comparison to other industries, foreign and domestic. Look at our
current situation in Long Beach, 100+ ships anchored, idling,
generators running, 24 hours a day for up to two weeks at a time.
Exhaust billowing. Meanwhile a sportfishing or whale watching boat
gets underway and then turns their motors off when the day is over.


With the above being said, my opinion is that this regulation
misses the mark of its intent in all aspects. As they say, the road
to hell is paved with good intentions and with that, we are
currently stopped at a red light, lets hope it doesn't turn green
for the sake of the mom and pop business, future generations of
children and conservation efforts that can only be passed with
peoples support via exposure to the sea and connections made to its
creatures.