Boat traffic back on at Santa Cruz Harbor to anglers delight
UPDATE 3/31/16 4:45 PM: All of the boat restrictions at the Santa Cruz Harbor were lifted Thursday afternoon, according to harbor officials.
Officials said they’re very excited that boats can come in and out once again. Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard ordered the harbor to stop traffic due to recent storms and a buildup of sand. It was tough news following the delay of the crab fishing season.
UPDATE 3/18/2016 10 PM: Commercial crab season is set to finally open next week and after a tough winter, fishermen in Santa Cruz got more bad news. On Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard ordered the Santa Cruz Harbor to stop all boat traffic.
“A lot of us are frustrated here. We’ve been sitting around here this whole time and now we can’t go fishing because the harbor is closed,” said commercial fisherman Joe Tomasello.
Tomasello said it’s been hard to make a living these past five months and now he said his crew is once again stuck.
“It’s kind of like we get handcuffed on one deal and we can’t do anything and the next thing you know we get handcuffed on another deal,” said Tomasello.
Federal officials ordered the harbor to close because of a buildup of sand at the harbor entrance caused by recent storms. Harbor officials said a sandbar has formed making the water too shallow, which causes shoaling.
“Basically what shoaling is, is a very shallow area of water depth, which causes a hazard for boats both to exit and enter the harbor,” Senior Deputy Harbormaster Don Kinnamon.
The Coast Guard safety zone is set to be in effect until May 1. But harbor officials hope to have the sand removed sooner.
“We hope to have things cleared with the next two weeks. If weather agrees with us, if these storms stop hitting us, good weather, good dredging conditions, two weeks we should look at a whole new picture,” said Kinnamon.
Still, fishermen said it can’t come soon enough. After months of waiting they’re ready to get back to work.
“Got to go make a living somehow. Nobody is going to pay my bills here so I got to go do it on my own,” said Tomasello.
The harbor plans to start cleaning out the sand Monday.
PREVIOUS STORY: Boat traffic is not allowed at the Santa Cruz Harbor after the U.S. Coast Guard issued an emergency safety zone due to hazardous conditions caused by recent storms.
According to Sergeant Don Kinamon with the Santa Cruz Harbormaster, boats will not be able to enter or exit the harbor until May 1 st or until the Santa Cruz Harbor completes emergency dredging.
Search and rescue boats will still be allowed in the harbor.
