24 • Apr. 22 - May 5, 2016 • The Log


More affordable recreational opportunities could be in store for Port of San Diego


Board of Port Commissioners adopts policy resolution to ramp-up low-cost moorings, slips and piers.


By Parimal M. Rohit


SAN DIEGO — The cost to pursue recreational opportunities on and at San Diego Bay might become a little more affordable as the Board of Port Commissioners adopted a new policy direction on March 8. A short-handed commission unanimously approved a resolution to provide general guidelines to assist the port in implementing the development of projects promoting low-cost access to recreational and visitor-serving activities on the San Diego waterfront. Port staff will study what low-cost visitor and recreational venues could be included under the new policy. Examples of low-cost visitor and


recreational venues, according to port staff, include public fishing piers, floating docks, moorings or boat slips, dock-and-dine piers, parks and open spaces, water taxis, and hotels or hostels. Commissioners added they did not want the policy resolution to manipulate the market and pre- determine where low-cost recreational opportunities should be located. “I don’t think government is very good at dictating to the market. I don’t think we should be in the position of telling the market that this is what we need and this is where we need it,” said Commissioner Anne Moore. “The idea of having specific locations throughout the bay [for mandated low-cost projects] prohibits other types of development from occurring on those sites.”


Moore suggested the port district


review an established list of criteria to determine whether to move forward with a low-cost visitor- serving or recreational development instead of mandating where such projects would be located. She also questioned how the


port district would institute a proposed in-lieu developer fee. Port staff suggested looking into assessing a fee on developments impacting low-cost overnight accommodations. Moore responded such a fee would only make sense if a direct benefit – building a free boat launch ramp in lieu of building a high-end hotel next to a marina, for example – were attached. Commissioner Dan Malcolm said he was happy to see boat docks included among the possible low- cost recreational opportunities offered within San Diego Bay. Incorporating boat docks into any plans for affordable recreational activities at the port would further activate the water, Malcolm said. Several low-cost recreational activities have already been provided to the general public through the port district’s leasehold revenues, according to a staff report to commissioners. “The district and its tenants have developed and maintain an estimated 22 parks, six playgrounds, six fire rings, seven swim beaches, 22 miles of promenade, five fishing piers, four public viewing piers and platforms, three boat launch ramps, free mooring and docking and numerous public art displays. The revenues are also used to provide public infrastructure, such as streets, sidewalks, public restrooms and landscaping,” port staff stated. Port staff is expected to return to the board with details of how


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The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners has been pushing to make San Diego Bay a world-class destination. Making recreational opportunities as affordable as possible would help the board achieve its vision.


the policy would be implemented within the next few months. Commissioners Rafael


Castellanos and Bob Nelson were not present for the agenda item. In a separate agenda item the


port’s board was given a presentation on Blue Economy opportunities. A Blue Economy capitalizes on marine-dependent businesses, primarily aquaculture and fisheries, eco-tourism, scientific research, security, and renewable energy. “The Blue Economy focuses on


nature-inspired technologies which generate multiple benefits to create economic incentives via job creation, reduced energy use, and more revenue streams at each step of the process, at the same time benefiting the communities involved and the environment,” port staff stated. Growing a sustainable aquaculture


industry to help ramp up the domestic seafood supply is a major element of the port’s Blue Economy opportunities. “Aquaculture is primarily being


IN MEMORIAM — Taras Poznik


Community raises funds to help pay for angler’s funeral. By Parimal M. Rohit


A free-diver lost his life in pursuit of a white sea bass off the Palos Verdes Peninsula, it was reported on April 9. Taras Poznik reportedly borrowed


a friend’s boat in hopes of reeling in a large white sea bass on April 8 but died while underwater. Poznik was about 37 feet underwater and 300 feet landward of his vessel, an 18-foot Boston Whaler, according to Easy Reader News. “A very tragic loss of a diver in


#PalosVerdes,” the Los Angeles County Fire Department stated on its Twitter page on April 9. “Teams worked tirelessly to recover the


missing diver over the past day.” A GoFundMe page was started


by Matt Meistrell on April 10 to help raise funds for Poznik’s funeral; the fundraiser reached its $5,000 goal within 13 hours. “The South Bay has been hit hard with the tragic loss of the legendary waterman, loyal friend and dedicated father, Taras Poznik. He was an avid spear fisherman and died doing what he loved,” Meistrell wrote on the GoFundMe page. “He was a truly unique individual. The way he lived was evident in that moral compass. He was a gentle kind person with a heart of gold.”


driven by the growing global demand for seafood and the lack of a domestic supply. Traditional harvest fisheries are fully exploited and cannot meet this increasing demand,” port staff stated, adding the United States imports most of its seafood. Almost half of the seafood


imported to the U.S. is sourced from aquaculture, port staff added. “Demand will continue to


increase with growing populations and an overall increased per capita consumption. While there is a clear food production component to this demand, aquaculture offers multiple co-benefits, such as fisheries enhancement, ecosystem restoration, mitigation banking, bio-fuel/ medical purposes, bioremediation, and education and outreach,” port staff stated. “Staff will explore opportunities for the district to manage a business incubator to assist with the establishment, development, and initial scaling of aquaculture start- ups and early stage companies.”


There were 132 donations totaling $14, 370 as of April 14, contributing to


Poznik’s funeral including an anonymous donation of $1000.


Matt Meistrell photo


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