Study Shows Grunion Populations Strong and Healthy

Beach Grooming Practices Found to be Sound

San Diego, CA - Today, November 13, 2002 the Natural Resources and Culture Committee heard the results of a 5 month study requested by Councilman Scott Peters on the effects of beach grooming on grunion populations at San Diego beaches. The study conducted with the help of Project Pacific and researchers at Pepperdine University found that, the grunion population is strong and healthy in the ocean waters off of San Diego, and that the current beach grooming protocol...is effective in avoiding grunion spawning sites. The results of this study show that with a bit of care and attention we can balance the needs of the environment and beachgoers, and that they can coexist without harming one another, said Councilman Peters.

In the Summer of 2001 residents in the beach areas of San Diego raised concerns that the City of San Diego's beach grooming practices were harming grunion that lay their eggs in the sand at high tides. At Councilman Peters request, the City Manager convened a task force, including representatives from the Park and Recreation Department, Project Pacific, Birch Aquarium, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO), the California Department of Fish and Game, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Using their expertise, the council reviewed practices that have been in use for 30 years. The City practice has been to groom the beach above the semilunar high tide line during grunion season from March to July.

To determine the health of the grunion population and validate the grunion beach grooming protocol Project Pacific and researchers at Pepperdine University convened a study that used 200 San Diego volunteers dubbed grunion greeters to record information on grunion runs at City beaches. The team was tasked with answering three questions.

1. What is the status of the grunion population at City beaches?

2. Does the City's beach grooming protocol of grooming above the semilunar high tide mark hurt the grunion?

3. Should grooming practices be modified for grunion?

Through the help of the grunion greeters the research team discovered:

1. The grunion population is strong and healthy in the ocean waters off San Diego.

2. The current grunion grooming protocol implemented by the San Diego beach maintenance staff during grunion season is effective in avoiding grunion spawning sites.

3. The beach grooming modifications of the grunion grooming protocol are necessary and should be continued.

This effort would not have been possible without the help of hundreds of San Diegans who stayed up until the early morning to record data on grunion runs. This enormous volunteer effort shows how dedicated San Diegans are to protecting and leaning about the coastal environment, noted Councilman Peters.

For more information on the Grunion Greeters program go to the Project Pacific web site at:

www.projectpacific.org