MPA's will stop pollution?

[Ohana]

Everyone:

I was just sent this e-mail notice from the Defenders of Wildlife and it starts by implying the MPA's will address urban runoff polluting marine habitats:

Every day toxins and runoff drain into California waterways and kill wildlife, including whales, seabirds and rockfish. Our coasts and several fish stocks, including the rockfish, have declined significantly. Polluted runoff is threatening our wildlife, oceans and coastal marine ecosystems -- something has to be done about it!

Our oceans are in trouble, take action now to protect them.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can help replenish depleted fish populations and restore ocean habitats. MPAs are proven, effective tool for restoring ocean health around the world, and they will continue to help protect marine wildlife and the coasts that make California special.

The California Fish and Game Commission is currently considering a plan for a new system of Marine Protected Areas along the southern California coast to help imperiled species like the rockfish survive and thrive.

Tell California Fish and Game to protect California wildlife.

Vibrant ecosystems along our coasts are necessary for a healthy marine wildlife population. California Fish and Game is considering different plans in the current comment period, while there is only one plan that adequately protects marine wildlife and our coast.

Proposal 3, “The Conservation Plan,” is the only proposal that meets all of the goals of the Marine Life Protection Act, offers the highest level of protection at biodiversity hotspots like Naples Reef and La Jolla, and leaves 88% of fishing grounds open in the area.

By adopting proposal 3, coastal wildlife throughout southern California will be protected and the ocean can continue to be used by kayakers, surfers, beach-goers and fishermen alike.

Tell California Fish and Game to adopt Proposal 3 and uphold the Marine Life Protection Act now.

With your help, we can ensure that imperiled wildlife across California continue to be protected as strongly as possible under state laws. Act now.

For the wild ones,

Incredible! I do not know how closing off an area is going to address urban runoff and other pollution. I guess closing an area off will prevent people from seeing the damage the runoff does, so it appears the problem is solved. Out of sight, out of mind!

I also notice how they imply that you will still be able to fish in the MPA's under proposal 3:

By adopting proposal 3, coastal wildlife throughout southern California will be protected and the ocean can continue to be used by kayakers, surfers, beach-goers and fishermen alike.

I am going to their website and see if you can question their claims. I suspect not, but worth the try!


Kevin

[dmrides]

Originally Posted by Ohana

By adopting proposal 3, coastal wildlife throughout southern California will be protected and the ocean can continue to be used by kayakers, surfers, beach-goers and fishermen alike.

I just got this email as well and went to their website. In the fine print they explain how in proposal 3 there are force fields that surround the MPA's to shield these protected regions of the ocean from the so-called "run-off" that is affecting the rockfish. This of course is why, we as kayakers and fisherman should adopt this proposal.

[dsafety]

So what is next? In addition to trying to deny the access to public fishing waters will they lobby to force the end to all development, (causes erosion) and agriculture, (fertilizers and pesticides). What about banning off road travel such as hiking and mountain biking, (more erosion) or swimming in lakes, streams and at the beaches, (bacterial contamination from water contact with human skin.)

If they are successful there, maybe they will go after other dangerous activities that can pollute the ocean. Let's see, driving a car or truck leaves behind rubber, brake dust, oil and of course the acid rain caused by smog. Then there are all those pesky toilets that discharge harmful pollutants into the oceans. What about our military. They are always running around in their big polluting ships or flying their jets and helicopters around spreading more pollution. Maybe the Defenders of Wildlife will suggest that we shut down all of those activities as well.

Obviously, what I am suggesting is just too silly to worry about, right? No one would go that far overboard. Or maybe they would.

Bob

[Ohana]

What drives me crazy is that it is classic scare tactic and typical political subterfuge. Imply a relationship without any proof of correlation or causation with what Defenders want passed so that people will agree with Defenders position while the people believe doing so will solve the other problem.

[Gino]

Anyone here look at the MLPA maps and see them including areas with Underwater Pipes? Manmande/converted river outflows? Fishing Piers?

Nope! becuase they cant be included in the MPA. Therefore there is the MPA does not stop or controll Urban Runoff or Polution. Some of those pipes Extened out past the proposed map reserves.

Dana point is perfect example of this, Marina Del Rey is another, and And Aliso Beach in South Laguna, Newport Pipes/piers and so on. Thats just a few examples.

Thye MPA does not stop pollution from runoffs. This is a complete Lie.


Looks like they are gearing up for another Fight, We have had a little break... We may have to Assemble again. Rally the troops.

[robmandel]

there is some, and I say some, truth in what they say.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/99-00/...chaptered.html

long story short, the bill stipulates:

2857

(b) The preferred alternative may include MPAs that will achieve either or both of the following objectives:
(1) Protection of habitat by prohibiting potentially damaging fishing practices or other activities that upset the natural ecological functions of the area.


(c) The preferred siting alternative shall include MPA networks with an improved marine life reserve component, and shall be designed according to each of the following guidelines:
(4) Marine life reserves shall be designed, to the extent practicable, to ensure that activities that upset the natural ecological functions of the area are avoided.

now, what exactly does that mean?

one, I'm not a lawyer and don't play one on tv. but, I can "read between the lines" so to speak. obviously this would very much include anything within the mpa. there were some red areas that were brought to the attention of the F&G in march by local communities with respect to outfall, drainage, irrigation, and other activities. some of the areas actually contained outflow pipes and it would cost in the many millions for the local cities to move or whatever to meet the, or the possible, protection levels.

so yes, they very well can (and no doubt will) be used in that manner.

two, how does it affect areas near, but not enclosed in, mpa's? I've no idea. enviro law isn't my specialty, but i'll bet ol' meg (caldwell, stanford econ law prof, brtf chair, and a few other things I can't say publicly) knows a thing or two. or three!! one could very well argue that mpa's are affected by outflow a few miles away. and one could very well argue that due to currents, what is dumped 5 miles away quickly will flow into a protected area so, ipso facto, the pollution must be controlled at the source.

the problem is that there is so much wiggle room either way. one could always argue that it is "impracticable" to do such and such a modification. or, one could argue that it is entirely practicable to do anything to protect the mpa. I simply do not know. lawyers are what lawyers are. by and large, they are sophists, masters of the art of rhetoric and obfuscation. they can twist any words into whatever they want. I mean how freaking difficult is it to understand "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" yet, damn sure, enough so called scholars will say it means what it doesn't say, and doesn't say what it means. go figure.

like all laws, they are, and we are, at the mercy of those who will enforce, those who will to enforce. it's also the law of unintended consequences. we simply do not what in the bill we be implemented nor how. it's the great unknown. that the enviros are licking their chops ought to be dire warning. they have the time, the money, and the will to pursue it to its fullest. make no mistake about that.