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October 18, 2008 -

Dangerous Hunting

Good article in the Los Angeles Times on the risks of abalone hunting in California also details the legal restrictions.  Commercial harvesting is banned in California, and the restrictions on recreational harvesters limit the area of the hunt, the number and size of the abalone, and the equipment that may be used.

Abalone divers must have licenses and can take only one species, the red abalone, north of San Francisco. Divers are limited to three abalone a day and 24 a year. Each one must be at least 7 inches in diameter.

Divers are allowed to use a mask, snorkel and flippers. Typically, they also wear a weight belt and take along a covered inner tube to hold their gear.

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October 14, 2008 -

The State Constitution

Maybe this is a bit off-topic for this site, but some issues are too big for arbitrary filing decisions.  But it does point to a broader issue relevant here.  In addition to all the other rights it guarantees, California’s Constitution provides the basis for the public beaches we hold so dear.  Tinkering with the basic law of the state to score petty political points is just wrong, and detracts from the overall beauty of that the document says and does.

Please vote No on Proposition 8.

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October 13, 2008 -

Encinitas Limits Surf Camps

Encinitas has joined the list of communities regulating and limiting surf camps and surf schools on city beaches.  The North County Times reported that “[a]t least 14 commercial surf camps operated on Encinitas beaches last summer, leaving residents and visitors complaining that they were being crowded out.”  

The move will limit the days and hours classes could be conducted, limit the number of students at any one location, and impose a per student charge on school operators.

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October 12, 2008 -

Beach Law In Practice

Lack of updates are due in large part to the time involved in planning and organizing our recent wedding reception at Crown Point.  Still not certain why the city felt justified in charging $375 for an event permit fee, considering that in end it didn’t guarantee us use of the shelter or pretty much anything else.  Don’t light the tiki torches.  Don’t run a generator.  Don’t cook using anything other than the provided grills.  Don’t have amplified music.  And don’t ever, ever, have alcohol on the beach.  

The reception went amazingly well despite the city though, and it still was a better deal than several hotels offered.  The weather was beautiful.  Our caterer was flexibile and worked within or around the silly rules.  The San Diego Men’s Chrorus’s voices were beautiful.  The toast with sparkling fruit juice might not have been traditional, but then again little else about our wedding was traditional either.  Want proof?  The official photos are here.  

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August 20, 2008 -

Status Quo at San Onofre

An Orange County judge has ordered that the status quo regarding the clothing optional beach at San Onofre be maintained pending further hearings.  That means the nudity remains legal for now.

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August 1, 2008 -

San Onofre Update

There’s a good update on the status of the state’s efforts to end San Onofre’s clothing optional status and the legal battle to preserve the status quo in an article by Matt Coker at OCWeekly.com. 

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July 4, 2008 -

Being Independent

Off celebrating Independence Day and conducting a little personal research on the impact of the new anti-alcohol regulations on San Diego area beaches.  In the meantime, even though I haven’t seen it yet, Alexander Jackson’s fictionalized but first-hand account of his stint as a beach lifeguard in Stone Harbor (New Jersey) has been getting some good reviews.  The book is called Lost Paradise, A Lifeguard’s Tale.  The account is reportedly based on his experiences lifeguarding for five summers on the New Jersey shore.

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June 30, 2008 -

Trial Regulations for Kite Surfing

A six-month trial of proposed regulations for kite surfing starts July 1 at the Silver Strand State Beach.  According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the regulations restrict the area where kite surfing can be practiced to avoid conflict with others in the water.

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June 24, 2008 -

Money and Art

The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that California’s ‘Whale Tale’ license plate is going to be changed due to a dispute over royalties between the Coastal Commission and the original artist, Robert Wyland.  The state has reportedly collected $40 million from the special plate since it was introduced in 1997.

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June 12, 2008 -

Bikinis Are Back

Kanab, Utah, has reportedly decided that a policy at their new city pool prohibiting both bikinis and speedos went too far, and will change the rule.  Giggling though at City Councilwoman Nina Laycock’s statement that “We were so engrossed with safety and health issues we overlooked the wording.”  How on earth is a dress code a health and safety issue?  The comments on the original Salt Lake Tribune article are particularly entertaining. 

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Interesting Sites

70 Percent Good site focusing on reporting and documenting break conditions for waveriders
Coastal Marine Resource Center Non-profit from the New York-New Jersey Harbor Bight
Free PB Opposition to additional beach regulations at San Diego’s Pacific Beach
Race for the Oceans A forum for swimmers and swimming fans to dive in to ocean conservation.
Surfrider Foundation Activities and campaigns for clean water, beach access, beach preservation and protecting special places.