Thread: Pier Repair Update

Originally Posted by Robert(Tato)Piteo

Seen a number of turtles swimming around with missing flippers obviously eaten by sharks. So if they want to help out the turtles they should let us harvest the inshore sharks that are trying to eat them. Just my two cents.

Here's one I saw. It's a pretty big leatherback. The dark spot on its side is a bite by a big shark, probably a tiger or big bull. It was ailing pretty badly and may not have survived.

I think the little sharks attract big sharks that feed on the little sharks and the turtles.
Turtle1 32K.JPG

Another problem with the delay is the fact that they are not issuing annual passes. Mine expired in November and that has cut into my casual visits by a bunch.

It appears that the pier project has been ensnared in the long arms of the Endangered Species Act. Section 7 of the ESA (https://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-...section-7.html) speaks to the previously referenced "Biological Assessment". A deep dive into rules in regs seems to suggest that this BA could determine the impacts of pier fisherpersons is negligible or presents enough potential risk to the sea turtle population that an "incidental take permit" may be required. Information at the link above speaks to a BA taking up to 180 days to complete. Not sure when the pier BA was launched. Not sure how long it takes to process an application for an Incidental Take Permit if such will be required.

Originally Posted by frednic

Another problem with the delay is the fact that they are not issuing annual passes. Mine expired in November and that has cut into my casual visits by a bunch.

This is the same for a lot of people, myself included. I have a feeling the pier is already losing money due to this and the uncertainty of the closing date.

Originally Posted by OBWolf

It appears that the pier project has been ensnared in the long arms of the Endangered Species Act. Section 7 of the ESA (https://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-...section-7.html) speaks to the previously referenced "Biological Assessment". A deep dive into rules in regs seems to suggest that this BA could determine the impacts of pier fisherpersons is negligible or presents enough potential risk to the sea turtle population that an "incidental take permit" may be required. Information at the link above speaks to a BA taking up to 180 days to complete. Not sure when the pier BA was launched. Not sure how long it takes to process an application for an Incidental Take Permit if such will be required.

Except that no one is taking sea turtles, incidentally or otherwise. Does this mean that if we accidentally snag a sea turtle we now get to keep it (kidding)?...

Is the pier currently open or is it closed?

The pier is still open, and will remain so until a closure date is announced.

Originally Posted by Trump

Is the pier currently open or is it closed?

I was told by an employee at the pier window a few days ago that they were told they would be given two weeks notice before it closed.

"Take" is defined by the ESA as harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect any threatened or endangered species. Harm may include significant habitat modification where it actually kills or injures a listed species through impairment of essential behavior (e.g., nesting or reproduction). . . . Congress authorized the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (through the Secretary of the Interior) to issue permits for the "incidental take" . . . Thus, permit holders can proceed with an activity, such as construction or other economic development, that may result in the "incidental" taking of a listed species.