Channel restrictions lifted at Santa Cruz Harbor

The U.S Coast Guard lifted restrictions at Santa Cruz Harbor Thursday after months of dredging in an effort to battle a shoaled channel entrance, according to Port Director, Lisa Ekers.

The harbor had a safety zone after heavy storms created a sandbar in the channel making it hard for boats to get in or out. Now it is appears that is not a problem anymore.

“The celebration for us started yesterday (Thursday) when we got word that the Coast Guard had, in fact, lifted the safety zone and you could hear the cheering coming from the boaters as well,” said Ekers.

Not everyone is celebrating. Struggles appear to continue for commercial crab fishermen after the start of the season was delayed for months following the discovery of high levels of domoic acid.

“We will probably get another couple weeks, if the “sporties” don’t take everything else,” said commercial crab fishermen, Joe Stoops. “We will probably stack the gear here in the next couple weeks and that will be the end of the season”