January 2006 MLPA Update from the KFASC

[KFASC]

Kayak Fishing Association of Southern California
Dedicated to preserve and expand kayak fishing opportunities
www.kayakfishingassociationsocal.org

January 2006 Email Newsletter


MLPA Update – CenCal Closures on the Horizon
Blue Ribbon Task Force to Debate Central Coast Closure Plans /
Pain in Store for Monterey-Carmel Area Kayak Anglers /
Additional Losses Possible in the Morro Bay Area /
Coastside Continues Court Fight vs. Special Interest Funding of State Policy /


Friends,

We're approaching the end game for the first Central California Marine Protected Area (MPA) networks. Five proposed MPA scenarios for the ocean between Pigeon Point and Point Conception will be debated in front of the Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) January 31 and February 1 in Morro Bay. Then at some later date, the BRTF will send their recommendation on to the California Fish and Game Commission for final approval.

As things stand, kayak anglers in the study area’s second largest urban area, Monterey / Carmel, stand to lose a big chunk of their access. That’s a big problem; safe launch sites and semi-sheltered waters are rarities in Central California. The best we can hope for is Package 1, the Angler's Proposal - a loss of some 1/3 of the kayak fishing opportunities in the area. If the comparative analysis included in the Angler's Proposal is accurate, the Environmental Proposal could close off as much as 78% of the kayak fishing opportunities in the area.

Other kayak fishing launch sites and fishing areas are also under the gun. South of Morro Bay, the Spooner’s Cove area in Montana de Oro State Park near Point Buchon is in the cross-hairs.

The KFASC will weigh-in in favor of the Angler's Proposal. It poses the least harm to kayak anglers by placing most closure areas in remote, inaccessible waters. For a more detailed break-down of how the proposals in front of the BRTF differ, please read on below.

As tough as the coming closures will be to swallow, I believe kayak anglers could have done much worse. Several excellent spots appear safe. We’ll hang onto Santa Cruz, lower Big Sur, San Simeon, most of the Cambria area, and the San Luis Obispo Bay.

The coming closures in the popular Monterey-Carmel area could be a sign of things to come down south. With few remote waters to close in out of the way areas, Southern California kayak anglers could still face painful losses. Fortunately our day of reckoning is at least a couple years off, so get out there and enjoy.

In other news, Central California’s Coastside Fishing Club continues its legal battle to turn back special interest funding of state policy development. The practice has to be stopped, or soon special interests of all stripes will seize control of state agencies. Public policy should be publicly funded. The KFASC supports Coastside’s efforts. For more information, or to contribute to the cause go to www.coastsidefishingclub.com.

What is the MLPA? The Marine Protection Act (MLPA) is a state law that mandates the creation of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the California coast. The KFASC is committed to working within the process for MPAs which allow recreational fishing. Keep up to date on the MLPA process at the KFASC website or at the state's MLPA Initiative Website: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/index.html

Paul Lebowitz
Director, Kayak Fishing Association of Southern California


Blue Ribbon Task Force to Debate Central Coast Closure Plans
The Blue Ribbon Task Force, charged with implementing the MLPA, is mulling over five Marine Protected Area (MPA) network alternatives for the Central California study region (Pigeon Pt. to Pt. Conception).

Forget about the proposal submitted by HOPE, an organization pushing for total closure of state waters in favor of sea otters; it has no chance. Kayak anglers who fish anywhere other than the Monterey / Carmel area should be able to live with the other four plans, although none of them are painless. The two main alternatives are the Angler’s Proposal and the Environmental Proposal. There are two others, the Hybrid Proposal which tries to find common ground between the Angler’s and Environmental plans, and one submitted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental interest group. With the exception of the Angler’s Proposal, kayak fishing in Monterey / Carmel would severely impacted.

You can access the proposals by clicking the link here:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/centralcoast.html

MPA Package Summaries:

Package 1, Angler's Proposal: Establishes Carmel Bay Conservation area, and a small offshore Cypress Pinnacles Reserve. Smallest impact to kayak anglers.

Package 2, Environmental Proposal: Enlarges existing Pt. Lobos Reserve and establishes
Carmel Pinnacles Reserve, leaving just a small portion of Carmel Bay open to fishing. Closes most of Monterey-Pacific Grove near-shore areas. Serious impact to kayak anglers; many of the easily accessible waters that will remain open appear to be sandy bottom areas.

Package 3, Hybrid Proposal: Virtually identical to Package 2.

Package AC, Natural Resources Defense Council Proposal: Not as restrictive as Package 2, but closes more than Package 1. Establishes Carmel Bay Marine Park, and includes most of Pacific Grove shoreline as a Conservation Area.

Package B, HOPE Proposal: Would close all state waters in the study region (Pigeon Pt to Pt Conception) to protect the sea otter. This proposal has little to no chance of adoption.

As explained in the Angler’s Proposal:

The greatest concerns that kayak-based fishermen and spear-fishermen have are access and opportunity. Using an electronic mapping system (Topo), the general contours of the peninsula’s coastline have been measured. The tool also allowed the areas proposed by Packages 1, 2 and 3 to be compared, by making graphic determinations of how much opportunity currently exists versus how much would exist if any of these proposals were implemented.

If adopted, Package 2 would result in a loss of approximately 78 percent of existing kayak based fishing and spearfishing opportunities between the Breakwater and Granite Point (measured linearly). Package 3 is identical to Package 2, except that it would leave a short section of Carmel Point open and would close a slightly smaller portion of Stillwater Cove, thus leaving open approximately one half linear mile more than Package 2. If adopted it would result in a loss of approximately 74 percent of existing opportunity. Although Package 3 has been promoted by its proponents as a “moderate compromise”, it is in fact quite extreme.

In comparison, even Package 1 would result in a 36.4 percent reduction in opportunity for kayak-based fishermen and spear fishermen. Although this option still represents a high impact on consumptive recreational interests, it achieves better balance among the uses of historic user groups.


The KFASC supports MPA Package 1, the Angler’s Proposal..

Coastside Will Have Its Day in Court: Pro-Closure MLPA Initiative Funding at Issue

The Coastside Fishing Club’s lawsuit challenging the special interest funding of the rollout of the MLPA is still in the early stages. The defendants, the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation, the Department of Fish and Game, and the California Resources Agency have filed a motion to move the case out of Del Norte County to San Francisco. Coastside opposes the move. Arguments on the motion will be heard on February 17.

To learn more about Coastside’s suit, or donate money to support their cause, visit www.coastsidefishingclub.com.


Your Help Wanted

The KFASC needs your help to attend or otherwise monitor upcoming meetings of the Blue Ribbon Task Force and California Fish and Game Commission. Meetings are held during business hours in Central California. If you'd like to help, please write news@kayakfishingassociationsocal.org for more information.


Who are the KFASC?

You! Our rank and file members are the heart of the organization. We need your backing to act more effectively. Please help us recruit more members by spreading the word amongst your fishing buddies and friends. As always, anyone who wants to do more is welcome to contact us at news@kayakfishingassociationsocal.org. We could use the help.

The KFASC staff is:

Paul Lebowitz, Director
Keith Martin, Webmaster

The KFASC Advisory Board is drawn from prominent members of the Southern California Kayak fishing community. Additional information is available at our website.