THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507180115
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT McCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Boaters and jet skiers will no longer have to worry about getting tangled in commercial crab pot lines on Pretty Lake.
On July 11, City Council unanimously passed an ordinance making Pretty Lake a crab sanctuary, off-limits to commercial crabbing. There was no opposition to the designation at the public hearing.
Pretty Lake is on the west side of the Shore Drive bridge and borders East Ocean View, Camellia Gardens, Bayview and other communities. Large numbers of commercial crab pots have made negotiating the lake difficult for boaters and jet skiers.
``I just think the lake belongs to citizens around there,'' Councilman W. Randy Wright said. ``A lot of commercial crabbers from out of the city of Norfolk have been dropping a huge number of crab pots, and boaters have had a problem getting out to the Bay.''
The idea for the sanctuary was initiated by local residents. The legislation was put forth by State Del. Howard E. Copeland, whose district includes part of Ocean View. In March, Gov. George F. Allen signed a bill to make the lake a sanctuary. The ordinance had to be passed by City Council before it could go into effect.
Local residents are very happy with the council's decision, said Jim Janata, president of the East Ocean View Civic League.
``Not only will people not have to worry about getting caught up in crab pots, the blue claw crab is being overharvested, and this is a step forward for preserving it,'' Janata said.
A sign designating the site as a crab sanctuary will be put up in the near future. Enforcement of the ordinance will come from the Norfolk Police Harbor Patrol and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. by CNB