By Paul Lebowitz

October 19, 2007

VENTURA – Following an October 10 closed door meeting with select members of the diving and lobster hooping communities, Ventura Harbor Master Scott Miller announced his total ban of lobster hoop netting would be rescinded immediately.

“We had a successful meeting with four divers, four hoop netters, and three people from the Port District and came to a consensus on what I believe will be a reasonable solution,” Miller said.

Taking the place of the ban that was instituted just days before the 2007 lobster opener and without public comment is a new set of restrictions that pose sharp limits on topside ‘bug’ hunters. Hoop nets can only be fished adjacent to the owner’s vessel in certain limited areas.

On the outside of the breakwall, the hoop net exclusion zone – deemed a “safety buffer” by Miller - was moved in from the previous 750 ft to 250 ft.

NO GO ZONE – Although the near-outright ban on the use of hoop nets at Ventura Harbor was relaxed, recreational lobster hunters still felt they came out on the short end.

Hoop netting is prohibited within 15-ft of the inner edge of the breakwall, within the navigation channel, and in the “triangle” – an area encompassed by the dogleg on the long north jetty and the outer breakwall.

Reaction among lobster hoop netters was muted.

Mike Thompson of Fisherman’s Tackle, a store not far from the harbor, said requiring hoopers to stay close to their nets is a good idea that cuts down traffic, thereby reducing the potential for confrontations or boating accidents. As for the 250-ft buffer, he wasn’t so sure. “It’s farther back than I want to be,” Thompson said.  

Jeff Rose of Ventura, who was present at the meeting, said things don’t look so good a day later. “Last night I was fairly happy we get to go back and fish the breakwall in Ventura. As I look at it today my perception has changed somewhat. It is very biased toward the dive community and against hoop netters,” Rose said.

Rose pointed out that divers enjoy access to every inch of the jetties and breakwalls. In contrast, hoop netters are limited to the inner two thirds of the breakwall.

Jason Morton, a kayaker who has regularly lobstered at Ventura for years, also attended the meeting as a representative of the hoop net community. Morton has been the marketing director for hoop net manufacturer Promar since early this year.

“We’re glad they opened the discussion on how we can bring hooping back to Ventura Harbor. As far as satisfied with the outcome, I’d say no. We respect the inside buffer zone. The 250-ft rule is excessive,” Morton said.

Promar staffer Jim Salazar agreed. “They might as well tell (hoopers) the outside wall is closed,” Salazar said of the 250 ft buffer zone. “What they’ve done is make it a diver’s sancturary. They need to find a solution that is equitable,” he added.

And what would that be? Rose said he’d prefer exclusive access to the inside of the breakwall. Salazar is in favor of alternating days between divers and hoopers, or at least allowing non-motorized boats within the 250-ft safety buffer. They have no prop to snag in wayward lines.