Completed Projects/Issues - Parks / Coast / Environment

Beach Grooming

Latest News on Grunion Study

In the summer of 2001 citizens contacted Council member Scott Peters questioning the city’s beach grooming practices. Beachgoers were concerned that the methods of beach grooming used by the City’s Department of Park and Recreation may be harming the grunion. In response to these concerns, Councilman Peters contacted the City’s Park and Recreation Department and Project Pacific, a non-profit organization of marine biologists and ecologically concerned individuals, to work with him in reviewing current policies.

At Councilman Peters’ request, the City Manager convened a task force, including representatives from San Diego’s Park and Recreation Department, Project Pacific, Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), the California Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other concerned and qualified individuals. Using their expertise, the council reviewed practices that have been in use for 30 years.

Project Pacific in conjunction with researchers at Pepperdine University have spent the past year working with local San Diegans to monitor Grunion runs along area beaches. Hundreds of marine biologists and educated volunteers have dedicated their time to studying the grunion in San Diego. Focusing their efforts on the beaches of Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla, Project Pacific has collected vital information about the grunion runs, how they lay their eggs on the beaches and whether or not the city’s beach grooming effects the survivability of the grunion eggs.

Project Pacific’s Grunion Greeter program educated San Diegans about the Grunion and sent them out to "greet" the grunion during grunion runs from March through July. The volunteers work under the supervision of Dr. Karen Martin of Pepperdine University. Dr. Martin has been leading the research project to learn more about the status of the grunion populations in southern California. Information will also be used by other grunion programs, including the Cabrillo Aquarium. Results are currently being organized for a report to be released in the Fall. The report will reveal whether or not the grunion are in fact being harmed by the city’s beach grooming practices.

Other Grunion links

Pepperdine Grunion Study
California Department of Fish and Game