and octopus. Except for squid, a predominantly nearshore species used 

 extensively for bait, important commercial and sport invertebrates are 

 found almost exclusively along the rocky coasts. Abalone, Haliotis 

 spp., market crabs. Cancer spp. , and the California spiny lobster, 

 Panulirus interruptus are species of primary economic importance and 

 were valued at $1.2 million in 1973. Shellfishes form an important 

 link in the ecological chains of the Southern California Bight, and 

 because many species are benthic and have larval forms that are 

 especially sensitive to oil pollution, shellfishes generally are highly 

 vulnerable to oil spills. A list of marine finfishes and shellfishes 

 found in Southern California can be found in Appendix IV. 



If spills occur in shallow areas such as the Cortex-Tanner Banks, 

 long-term destruction of finfish and shellfish may almost certainly 

 occur because of the mixing of oil in the water column and settling on 

 the bottom. Pristine-like areas such as the Banks are thought to be 

 especially vulnerable to pollution because no tolerance has been built 

 up by finfishes and shellfishes in the area. 



BIRDS AND WILDLIFE 



The marine environment of Southern California supports 158 species 



25 

 of birds. Sixty species use the open waters of bays and estuaries 



whereas the interbay and emergent vegetation areas support 50 and 10 



species, respectively. Fifteen species of birds inhabit the rocky 



shore areas, 57 species are found in the inshore areas, and 37 in the 



offshore waters. 



69 



