San Diego:  9/3/02 - California Sportfishermen win a partial victory over commercial fishermen.  There has been a long standing feud just off the California shores.  The root problem seems to be the depletion of the fish stock within the state controlled three mile limit.  Just who to blame for this is open for debate with no one willing to accept the blame.

Sportfishermen are quick to blame commercial fishermen claiming that the area is a public resource.  Commercial fishermen are just trying to make a living and going where the fish are.  The State decided to finally step in and has created four zones including some no fishing zones to be named Marine Protected Areas.  Further subdivisions based on fathoms are also being proposed.

However, perhaps even more important, the economic impact these new restrictions will have on the live fish markets and restaurants in the Southern California area could be devastating.  The Rockfish and the California Sheephead will be in short supply.  In fact, there has been talk of perhaps developing a farm system for raising the Sheephead due to it's crab-like taste.