MLPA ROLL CALL: Saddle up! Dec 15, Final Meeting. Be there!

[Tman]

This from Keep America Fishing...forward to friends, family, etc...let's inundate the DFG...

Process to Close Sportfishing in California Nearing Critical Final Vote
Send in your comments to the Fish and Game Commission prior to the December 15-16 meeting asking for the suspension of the South Coast implementation process

The Situation
During its upcoming meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission could vote to enclose approximately 15 percent of southern California’s coastal waters within marine protected areas (MPAs), including many of the most popular fishing spots, under the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process. This critical vote comes at a time when concerns about the MLPA process continue to escalate. A recent court ruling validates long-held concerns about the secretive ways in which the groups implementing the MLPA have been making decisions. The meeting is being held December 15-16, in Santa Barbara .

The MLPA process has been plagued by numerous issues which have not been resolved, including:

• The lack of a transparent and open decision making process
• Inadequate resources for enforcement and biological monitoring
• A process that side-steps a science-based fisheries management approach that clearly identifies the threats to California ’s marine environment

Touted as “ecosystem protection,” the MLPA only targets recreational fishing and its significant economic contributions to California’s economy all the while ignoring the litany of significant threats to California’s oceans, such as sewage outfalls and storm water runoff, agricultural chemicals and other pollutants, ocean acidification, ocean side development and once-through cooling.

The Department of Fish and Game estimates that the MPA regulations will cost California ’s taxpayers $40 million annually for enforcement and biological monitoring – resources that the state simply does not have. With a current deficit of $26 billion, California cannot afford to adopt costly measures that will only work to limit recreational fishing access which provides employment for 20,000 Californians.

How You Can Help

Given the numerous serious concerns surrounding the process, please send a message to the California Fish and Game Commission urging them to suspend the South Coast MLPA implementation.

Visit www.KeepAmericaFishing.org for more information on the MLPA.

Thank you for doing your part to help KeepAmericaFishing!

[FISHIONADO]

I'll be there, thanks for the heads up.

[FISHIONADO]

Anyone want to car pool? Only need one car so far....

[PAL]

Two replies. Come on BWE, we're better than this.

Even if most of you can't make it between the holidays and the miserably inconvenient time and location, there should at least be activity on this thread.

As a community, we sacrificed much to hang onto a big chunk of La Jolla. That work isn't quite finished.

At the very least, send in those letters, and if you're the religious type, maybe you better start praying. With this limp showing, we're going to need divine intervention to hold the line.

Man up! This silent act is weak.

[kurt]

Letter sent. No more vacation days or sick days, so I doubt I'll make this one. But I'll try.

[PAL]

Thanks Kurt. Who's next!

[Jim Sammons LJKF]

Letter sent and I will do my best to get there. May need to share a ride

[RK]

letter sent thank you

Originally Posted by Tman

This from Keep America Fishing...forward to friends, family, etc...let's inundate the DFG...

Process to Close Sportfishing in California Nearing Critical Final Vote

Send in your comments to the Fish and Game Commission prior to the December 15-16 meeting asking for the suspension of the South Coast implementation process

The Situation
During its upcoming meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission could vote to enclose approximately 15 percent of southern California’s coastal waters within marine protected areas (MPAs), including many of the most popular fishing spots, under the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process. This critical vote comes at a time when concerns about the MLPA process continue to escalate. A recent court ruling validates long-held concerns about the secretive ways in which the groups implementing the MLPA have been making decisions. The meeting is being held December 15-16, in Santa Barbara .

The MLPA process has been plagued by numerous issues which have not been resolved, including:

• The lack of a transparent and open decision making process
• Inadequate resources for enforcement and biological monitoring
• A process that side-steps a science-based fisheries management approach that clearly identifies the threats to California ’s marine environment

Touted as “ecosystem protection,” the MLPA only targets recreational fishing and its significant economic contributions to California’s economy all the while ignoring the litany of significant threats to California’s oceans, such as sewage outfalls and storm water runoff, agricultural chemicals and other pollutants, ocean acidification, ocean side development and once-through cooling.

The Department of Fish and Game estimates that the MPA regulations will cost California ’s taxpayers $40 million annually for enforcement and biological monitoring – resources that the state simply does not have. With a current deficit of $26 billion, California cannot afford to adopt costly measures that will only work to limit recreational fishing access which provides employment for 20,000 Californians.

How You Can Help

Given the numerous serious concerns surrounding the process, please send a message to the California Fish and Game Commission urging them to suspend the South Coast MLPA implementation.

Visit www.KeepAmericaFishing.org for more information on the MLPA.

Thank you for doing your part to help KeepAmericaFishing!