Vessels in the Tijuana River Valley Marine Protected Area.
Photo credit: Scott Taylor
Dead baby dolphin with severed tail.
Photo credit: Jeff WallisSome time in the late spring of 2014, two bait-fishing vessels started showing up very close to shore in the Tijuana River Valley Marine Protected Area, dragging large fishing nets through these federally-protected waters. They are possibly linked to the killing of a baby dolphin (left), whose tail was severed and body was dumped into the ocean, only to wash ashore for the public to see and take photos of.
One of the boat's names is "The Rival". The other boat's name is [unknown...so far].
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Photo Gallery
Dophin tail detail.
Photo credit: Jeff Wallis
Vessels near shore.
Photo credit: Scott Taylor
Vessels near shore.
Photo credit: Scott Taylor
Think there's any illegal fishing happening? Got tips? Call Cal-TIP. All calls are confidential!
Californians Turn in Poachers and Polluters 1-888-DFG-CALTIP (888-334-2258)
Questions and Answers
Leave your questions here, or answer ones you know the answer to.
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Q: What have the lifeguards done about this? They obviously must be aware that this is going on, so why do the vessels continue to return?
- A: ...
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Q: One of the boat's names is "The Rival"...what's the name of the other one?
- A: ...
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Q: Are there some types of game that are allowed to be caught in this Marine Protected Area? If so, are there any regulations that need to be followed by fishing vessels?
- A: ...the regulations say that you are allowed to take pelagic fish in this area by nets. These guys are not doing anything illegal. Check out department of fish and game website.
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Q Three questions. 1. How do they deal with "inadvertent" catch such as fin fish, pelagic fish, cetaceans, and pinipeds brought in with their "legal" haul in their huge nets? 2. How are they monitored so that the "inadvertent" catch is properly set free? 3. How can we change the rules of our particular MPA so that it may NOT be bait-fished, thus saving the bait fish for the endangered birds (terns, etc.) that nest in the wildlife sanctuary partially because of the presence of such a plentiful food supply?: ...
- A: ...
