In June 1997 San Juan County’s Commissioners established the first ever voluntary no-fishing areas in Puget Sound.

Next Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m., Eric Eisenhardt of the SeaDoc Society will discuss the effectiveness of eight voluntary no-fishing areas set up in San Juan County over ten years ago to help recover depleted fish populations.

When the voluntary no-fishing areas were set over a decade ago, citing concern about declining populations of lingcod, rockfish and other bottomfish, eight Bottomfish Recovery sites were identified. People were asked to voluntarily not fish for bottomfish at these locations and allow declining populations to recover.

Examples from other locations showed that over time populations of heavily fished sedentary species like rockfish could recover and reserves could serve as nursery areas. A scientific study has been conducted to determine if these voluntary reserves are in fact working.

Eisenhardt, a Research Associate with the SeaDoc Society, is a fish ecology expert and has studied the effectiveness of marine reserves as part of his graduate studies and professional work. He will discuss data collected over the last ten years to compare voluntary no-fish sites with fished areas. “This study is a great example of how science can inform better management of our important marine resources,” says Joe Gaydos, Regional Director of the SeaDoc Society. Some species of rockfish can live to be over 100 years old and like salmon and killer whales they help to define this region. The recovery of declining bottomfish populations is an important concern for local citizens.

This is the first lecture of the 2008/09 marine science lecture series designed for the general public. This is the seventh season that this lecture series has been produced. The program begins at 7 p.m. at the Camp Orkila Marine Salmon Center and is free. Please park in the upper parking lot at Camp Orkila. Shuttle service from the parking lot to the talk is available before and after the lecture.

The 2008-2009 Marine Science Lecture Series is presented by program partners The SeaDoc Society, www.seadocsociety.org and YMCA Camp Orkila, www.seattleymca.org. It has been made possible through generous sponsorship by Tom Averna (Deer Harbor Charters), Barbara Brown, The Gould Family Foundation and co-sponsorship by Shearwater Kayaks and Jim and Kathy Youngren.