The Marine Sanctuary, stretching from Marin to Cambria and originally designated in 1992 as a federally protected marine area, is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. The use of powered watercraft is a relatively new development in the sport of surfing. Their introduction has allowed surfers to catch extraordinarily large waves that would otherwise be impossible to ride. In recent years, the sport of towsurfing has become a fascinating phenomenon and it has grown dramatically all over the world, including in the Monterey Bay Sanctuary.

In 1992, the Advisory Committee laid out definitions of powered watercraft applicable within the Sanctuary’s boundaries, and ruled that the craft could be used in only four zones, all specific distances from sensitive habitats and species. The current definition of a PWC is any motorized vessel that is less than 15 feet in length and has the capacity to carry no more than the operator and one other person while in operation. The term includes,
but is not limited to jet skis, wet bikes, surf jets, miniature speed boats, airboats and hovercraft.

Most PWC now fall outside of the Sanctuary’s definition. The latest models of powered watercraft can carry up to five passengers and attain speeds in excess of 60-mph. Engine size, endurance, and thrust capabilities have all increased over time. Powered watercraft that do not fit within the Sanctuary’s original definition are not limited by the guidelines.

The Sanctuary is currently reworking its definition so that all craft used for towsurfing will be covered and thus limited to operating in the four zones already outlined, said Rachel Saunders, community and public relations coordinator for the for the Bay’s Sanctuary. Not only is the Sanctuary’s Advisory Committee attempting to create a new definition for PWC, it is also reevaluating the existing zones where such craft are permitted to operate, especially Mavericks.

The world-renowned Mavericks surf breaks are some of the largest in the United States. But Mavericks is also “in an area that is right near Fitzgerald Marin Reserve where there is a large concentration of harbor seals that could be endangered by towsurfing,” said Saunders. Though not yet set in stone, special permitting requirements that would ban towsurfing except for designated competitions once or twice a year. are under serious consideration by the Committee.

This proposed ban of recreational towsurfing has been met with both dismay and outrage on the part of towsurfers. According to Don Curry, a professional towsurfer, the existing restriction limiting the sport to specific zones has already dramatically narrowed its scope at the location and nearly created a ban without doing so officially. “Who wants to chum for food in this little designated zone?” he asked. “We already rarely get a dozen days of towsurfing in the winter, and in the summer, you can’t even count on one hand how many towsurfers are out there.”

The Advisory Committee contends that towsurfing poses a significant threat to marine life and its habitat within the Sanctuary, and could even lead to its elimination. The Committee has cited research conducted in other locations to support its position. Even though the studies were done in places other than the Sanctuary, members of the Committee are standing by their claims that the results of the studies are nonetheless applicable. For example, a study conducted in the San Francisco Bay between 1998 and 2001 concluded that watercraft exhibiting sudden changes in speed and direction were much more likely to flush harbor seals than were vessels passing at a steady speed and constant course. Research in Florida found that PWC can increase turbidity in the ocean and redistribute benthic invertebrates. Another study in Florida found that Bottlenose Dolphin, which also frequent the coastline of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary, are endangered by such craft because jet skis are not acoustically detectable at the same distances as other types of watercraft. If dolphins are unable to detect the jet skis until they are dangerously close, concluded the study, then they may not be able to adjust their behavior in anticipation of the vessel’s approach. According to the study, “It is not inconceivable that Bottlenose Dolphins could be disturbed enough by to leave parts of the Santa Cruz and San Mateo coastline altogether.” Saunders has said that the Sanctuary should not have to wait until the environment experiences more destruction to take action. “We do have the mandate to proactively protect significant sanctuary resources,” she said in response to questions about the lack of studies specific to Monterey Bay shorelines.

Towsurfers have contended that the environmental claims of the Advisory Committee are weak and unsubstantiated. “Research in Florida should not be applied to what is happening on California’s coastline,” cried one angry blogger on towchat.com. “I think it’s falsified and there’s not actual scientific proof — especially since, when we’re out there, we’re doing our towsurfing in 40 to 60 foot waves, nothing survives.
“There’s nothing near when we’re towing,” said Curry. Why, ask towsurfers, are they being singled out? What about other vessels including speedboats, fishing boats, and others that are possibly just as hazardous to wildlife and habitats? Many towsurfers have alleged that the real issue at hand is personal bias against towsurfers. ˆPeople are more annoyed at the noise and commotion that PWC kick up,” said Ken Skindog, a professional towsurfer. Curry calls it a personal vendetta. “Somebody had a bad experience at a lake or somewhere.” Perhaps it is a “disagreement between users,” as Skindog calls it. Curry suggested that paddle surfers might feel that their waves are being overcrowded, that they are resentful toward towsurfers who are catching huge waves. “It’s a moral high ground that they take. They’re not willing to give in to technology and change,” he said.

The most practical solution, towsurfers say, is education. Curry believes that it has been only a small group of reckless towsurfers, without the proper education or environmental etiquette, who have created a bad rep
for the towsurfing community. Those who want to operate PWC should be certified and licensed, he said.

A formal draft of the Sanctuary’s updated work will submitted for review and public comment by the end of the year. A small working group consisting of people from the PWC industry, towsurfers and environmental organizations is currently working to find common ground, said Saunders. Recommendations, when complete, will be sent to Washington for inclusion in legislation. Curry said that for now, “the ball’s in their court, [and there’s] not a whole lot we can do.” He’ll be maximizing his towsurfing this winter, he said, and then he expects that he’ll be heading to the courts to appeal what he anticipates will be an unacceptable result from Washington.

For updates or to get involved, visit www.towsurfer.com or www.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/.