GHOST TREE PWC BAN? Decision On Watercraft Comes Tomorrow

Riding waves like this at Ghost Tree, part of the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary, will be a lot more difficult without a jet ski.

While it was reported that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) will ban the use of Motorized Personal Watercraft (MPWC) within the marine sanctuary as of February 2009, limiting or eliminating the use of JetSkis at big-wave spots like Ghost Tree, Moss Landing and Maverick’s, the truth is the official action does not become public until tomorrow, November 20, 2008, and nothing is for sure.

View photos of huge Ghost Tree here.

For an idea of the geography, the MBNMS stretches from about 7 miles north of Point Bonita, near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, all the way south to near Cambria on California’s coast.

Has the NOAA been discussing this? Yes. Do we know the details? No. “We are constrained by federal rules and until it’s a final, official, action by the federal government, I really can’t comment on it, ” said Scott Kathey with the MBNMS. “It becomes final tomorrow.” He was however, able to say the decision is about a much larger issue than MPWC. We all know that’s the issue that closely effects big-wave surfers, but the MBNMS’s interest is in protecting the sanctuary at large and many people have been part of the decision making process.

The use of MPWC makes up a very small part of a much bigger decision. “This isn’t just about MPWC at all,” he says. “It’s a very small part of a very large management plan process that’s been going on for seven years. It’s basically our management plan for the Sanctuary over the next 10 years. This is our guidebook and it’s taken a long time, mainly because we have a tremendous amount of public input and it’s far more than most federal agencies do.”

According to Kathey, the MBNMS has limited the use of MPWC inside the sanctuary since 1992 so it’s nothing new. What we’re waiting for is to see how and if those limitations will change. It was reported that Maverick’s will remain a “seasonal” MPWC zone, but while Kathey could not confirm details until tomorrow, he did say that elimination of all MPWC within the sanctuary is not true. That said, it is possible Maverick’s may get a “seasonal” fifth MPWC operating zone. Right now the MBNMS currently has four in other areas, but until the NOAA’s decision is official tomorrow, we don’t yet know if those zones will stay put.

The definition of MPWC is not limited to JetSkis. “As of right now, and since 1992, it’s been much more than just JetSkis. It includes hovercraft, small fast speedboats, hydrofoils, airboats…Those are all considered MPWC. The majority of craft that qualify as MPWC in this sanctuary tend to be more of the JetSki variety, but the definition is broader,” said Kathey.

Since the MPWC used for tow-in surfing are mainly of the JetSki type, it will be interesting to learn how the sport will be affected by new regulations and whether the definition of MPWC will change. “A small part of that regulations package will address MPWC; mainly a redefinition of what MPWC are as far as NOAA is concerned, and then there’ll be some regulations addressing access at Mavericks,” he said.

Whatever the decision, surfers will undoubtedly find a way around any laws preventing them from doing what they love and the face of tow-in surfing might change. Surfers are forever pushing the envelope and finding new ways to ride waves. If big waves can’t be ridden with the help of MPWC inside the Sanctuary, some surfers will still find a way to get into those massive waves. Tomorrow’s decision will indicate down which road we’re headed.