Sarah Woodend Contributing Writer A marine scientist met recently with West Vancouver’s Lighthouse Park Preservation Society to discuss the preservation of the park’s fragile marine environment. Jeff Marliave, director of marine science = at’_—stthe Vancouver Aquarium, focused on marine life at Point Atkinson and specifically East Beach. The area, he said, is important because it’s a small marine sanctuary. Marliave said the forest and the ocean should be looked at separately because, “we need preservation of wi hat exists off: shore, but rehabilitation of the fish.” He pointed out that the most important geological characteristic of the East Beach area is that silt cannot settle on its rocks, which means that life can glue itself to rock surfaces. Barnacles provide the ideal place for many species of fish to lay egg mass. Marliave said that pollu- ~ tion, sport diving and trolling are extremely harmful to marine life, but the number ‘one problem is over-fishing. “There is lots of over-fish- ‘ing, of a magnitude people can’t. even comprehend,” he said. Black rockfish were once abundant in Vancouver har- bour, Howe Sound and the Fraser River, but are now con- . sidered extinct because their population is no longer large ‘enough. The rocktish-were victims -of spear-fishing and fly-fishing ..°, because they come to the sur- . face at twilight to catch bugs. 2 Mancouver ‘Aquarium has, _however, transplanted some of the’ fish: to Point Atkinson, ‘which ‘is now the only place they. can be found. Marliave’s team: has also ecre diseg cred ad ‘ ida ‘vimicala’ or . spangled érevice dweller is a relative of - the Cocktail fish. I: lives in the ““erevices of the rocks at East : Beach. « He‘and his team have man- : aged to institute a fishing clo- “sure-at East Beach. Bur the ‘dlosure- falls under Canada’s old: fisheries act, which only ~ protects parks in so far as they “don’t interfere with logging, mining and fishing. .The new ocean's act pro- vides: complete..no-take clo- Sure, meaning no dredging, no dumping, no mineral exca- “yation, bue § -Vancouver Aquarium. has only a five-year research closure on East Beach _ under the old act. It will be re- = evaluated after the closure “expires. © Marliave said politicians need to be convinced that marine parks should serve as sanctuaries. Vancouver is Canada’s largest voting block -for west coastal fisheries. With more support from arca_ residents an groups like the Lighthouse. Park Society, - Marliave said -more fisheries" closures could be instituted. | The’ Lighthouse Park Society was founded in June 1997 as a small group of con- . cerned community members. Ine was s established as an official anew: non-profit organization in late 1998. The society is dedicated to maintaining the biological health of Lighthouse Park and ridding the land of invasive plant species that are detri- menta! to its natural vegeta- tion. The group has already been involved in such activities as stopping the many film com- panics that use the park ftom cutting down tree branches and wi idening trails or blowing up ships off the park's shore. Actions of the society have been stalled due to an Environmental Assessment Report looking at the health of the park thar was recently presented to West Vancouver council}. The report has also tem- porarily stopped film-making in the park. [one TTENTI NE Wednesday, April 7, 1999 - North Shore News - 19 West Van’s marine environment at risk The socicty’s ultimate goal is to expand park boundaries by acquiring adjacent residen- tial areas. JEEP OWNERS Complete mechanical & electrical repairs b IMPEX AUTO Ww w3.be.sympatico.ca/impexauto/impexauto-htm! Se Ga We a ee factory trained technician i OTIVE 1335 Pemberton Ave. Tel: 985-6237 | Visit our web site: Take an additional 50 % off selected clearance fashions and shoes for women, men & kids. FOR WOMEN 30% off -e all regular-priced jackets, pants & skirts from Jones Wear & The Work Connection 25% Off ‘FORKIDS ~ 30% off ¢ girls’ Attitude denim ® boys’ Retreat denim. FOR YOUR HOME e all regular-priced Petites & Eaton Woman fashions all regular-priced jewellery from The Work Connection ® all regular-priced Van Heusen apparel and accessories . {excluding designer collections) 25%0ff © 3-pack pantyhose from 25%off FOR MEN 30% off 30% off _ © all non-electric frypans, skillets, sauté pans, stir-fry pans & grill pans (includes Eaton Home, Cuisinart, Lagostina, Meyer & T-Fal) Silks, Secret, Vanity Fair & Hanes 25% off © regular-priced bed fashions, including FACTORY OUTLET 25%-50% off - © selected Factory Outlet merchandise, More great deais in store. EATON’S. Personat shopping only. Sale offers good April 8th only, unless otherwise specified. Savings are on the criginal ticketed price ‘unless otherwise noted.” Sale offers cannot be combined. Offer excludes Warehouse Stores and Clearance Cemiés. . : Raiph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica & Esprit