Former-mlpa-science-co-chair-sentenced-to-10-months-in-federal-prison

Former MLPA science co-chair sentenced to 10 months in federal prison. 

Calls into question if the Science he provided to the MLPA was real or not????

Pacific BlueFin Tuna - Real Data -

This is directly from the NOAA website:

"Other management organizations, like the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) are also considering additional conservation and management measures. U.S. fisheries generally harvest a small fraction of the total Pacific-wide bluefin harvest, and represent only two percent of the average annual landings from all fleets fishing in the Eastern Pacific Ocean."

2% of the catch from the US

2%

Read for yourself:
http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/tuna/species_pages/pac_bluefin_tuna.html

Help save Bluefin Tuna Fishing - US West Coast

May not be an MLPA issue, but just as Dangerous to Sport-fishing on the West Coast US. This is being pushed by the same people....

Need your help to save the BlueFin Tuna fishing on the West Coast US. Please post a comment on this site
-
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0076

Click on the comment button - There is a lot of bad info out there and reports that the Pacific BlueFin is in danger - A lot of info is getting mixed with the Atlantic Bluefin as well, which is a separate and completely different problem. Just tell them why you want to be able to fish for the Pacific Bluefin in US waters. Don't let the small group of extremist stop us from sport-fishing on the west coast. 

FREE MAPS of MLPA SoCal edition

Guide to Southern California Marine Protected Areas Now Available
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has released a printed Guide to Southern California Marine Protected Areas that shows boundaries of the new marine protected areas (MPAs) along the Southern California coast.

Guides are free and available from DFG offices in Santa Barbara, Los Alamitos and San Diego, as well as selected ocean-related businesses and harbormasters' offices along the coast. 

"This booklet makes it possible for us to reach a broader audience by putting printed local marine protected area information directly in the hands of the public," said Paul Hamdorf, Acting DFG Marine Region Manager.

The full-color Guide includes maps, coordinates, shoreline boundary images and regulations for Southern California MPAs along the coast from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to the U.S./Mexico border, and around islands. Also included are descriptions of the goals of the Marine Life Protection Act which guided the MPAs' development, answers to frequently asked questions and links to DFG web pages with additional information.

Southern California MPAs went into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, after the California Fish and Game Commission adopted regulations in 2011. This network of 50 MPAs (including 13 pre-existing MPAs retained at the northern Channel Islands) and two special closures covers approximately 355 square miles of state waters and represents approximately 15 percent of the region.

For a list of locations and a map that shows where booklets can be found, please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/sclocations.asp. The guide itself is also available for online viewing and printing atwww.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/guidebooks.asp.  

For more information, please visit DFG's Southern California MPAs webpage at www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/southcoast.asp.

DFG gets Mobil App for MPA

DFG Releases Mobile Website with MPA Maps

posted: 10/27/2011

By: Taylor Hill

 SACRAMENTO — Anglers heading out on offshore fishing trips will be able to locate all the planned Marine Protected Areas off Southern California with a glance at their smartphones — as long as they have cell service. The California Department of Fish and Game’s new mobile website recently added maps of the north, central and south coast Marine Protected Areas, so anglers can see where the no-fishing zones are — wherever they may be.

“We think this site is a thing of genius,” said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham. “This site will help immensely in our outreach efforts regarding the MPAs.”

With the regulations already in place in the north coast and central coast areas, the south coast region regulations are expected to be implemented Jan. 1, 2012.

Though some offshore areas may have spotty cellphone coverage, the website is expected to be useful to anglers, boaters and others who plan to use or pass through MPA waters. Users can access the information from personal computers, as well as smartphones, tablets and other portable devices. The site’s color-coded map shows distinctions between different levels of protection in each MPA — and it allows users to select areas by map, county, region or by alphabetical order.

“This site is testament to the caliber and commitment of DFG employees,” Bonham said.

To view the site, visit dfg.ca.gov/mobile.
Marine Protected Areas to go into effect Jan. 1, 2012:

San Diego County:

Agua Hedionda Lagoon State Marine Reserve 
Batiquitos Lagoon State Marine Park
Buena Vista Lagoon State Marine Park
Cardiff-San Elijo State Marine Conservation Area 
Encinitas State Marine Conservation Area
La Jolla State Marine Conservation Area
Mia J. Tegner State Marine Conservation Area
San Diego-Scripps State Marine Conservation Area
San Dieguito Lagoon State Marine Park
San Elijo Lagoon State Marine Park

Orange County:

Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area
Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area
Doheny Beach State Marine Conservation Area
Doheny State Marine Conservation Area
Heisler Park State Marine Reserve
Irvine Coast State Marine Conservation   Area
Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area
Niguel State Marine Conservation Area
Robert E. Badham State Marine Conservation Area
South Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area
Upper Newport Bay State Marine Park

Los Angeles County:

Abalone Cove State Marine Park
Arrow Point to Lion Head Point Invertebrate Area, Catalina Island Special Closure
Catalina Marine Science Center State Marine Reserve
Farnsworth Bank State Marine Conservation Area
Lover’s Cove State Marine Conservation Area
Point Fermin State Marine Park

Ventura County:

Anacapa Island Special Closure
Anacapa Island State Marine Conservation Area
Anacapa Island State Marine Reserve
Big Sycamore Canyon State Marine Reserve
Footprint State Marine Reserve, Anacapa Channel

Santa Barbara County:

Carrington Point State Marine Reserve,  Santa Rosa Island
Goleta Slough State Marine Park
Gull Island State Marine Reserve, Santa  Cruz Island
Harris Point State Marine Reserve, San Miguel Island
Judith Rock State Marine Reserve, San Miguel Island
Painted Cave State Marine Conservation Area, Santa Cruz Island
Refugio State Marine Conservation Area
Richardson Rock State Marine Reserve, San Miguel Island
San Miguel Island Special Closure
Santa Barbara Island State Marine Reserve 
Scorpion State Marine Reserve, Santa Cruz Island
Skunk Point State Marine Reserve, Santa Rosa Island
South Point State Marine Reserve, Santa Rosa Island
Vandenberg State Marine Reserve

Make Your Voice Heard on Regulations That Propose to Close Southern California's Marine Waters to Fishing

This May Be Your Last Chance to Comment on MLPA Regulations Before They Are Finalized

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process, which propose to unnecessarily close much of the state's best coastal waters to sportfishing, is near completion in southern California, but anglers and boaters still have an opportunity to provide input before these regulations are finalized. On October 3, the California Fish and Game Commission opened a 15-day public comment period for revised proposed regulations for the South Coast marine protected areas developed under the MLPA process. Revisions were made because the California Office of Administrative Law (OAL), which must first review and approve the regulations before they go into effect, rejected the regulatory package previously provided by the commission.

The re-noticed regulatory package attempts to clarify and revise several aspects of the commission's decision making per the OAL's request, and makes changes to some of the proposed marine protected area (MPA) boundaries and what activities will be allowed in them. The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans, which represents the interests of California's recreational anglers and boaters in the MLPA process, urges all anglers to provide their thoughts and concerns about the regulations prior to the October 18, deadline. Comments will also be accepted at the October 19 Fish and Game Commission meeting in Monterey, Calif. It is important that anglers respond to the revised MPA regulations since they may significantly affect their ability to access the most productive ocean areas!

Act Now

Enter your zip code below to send a letter to the Fish and Game Commission expressing your concerns with the revised regulations, and the MLPA in general, before the October 18 deadline. Thank you for doing your part to keep California fishing!

Click here to send a letter

Fish and Game Commission Votes on New Effective Date for South Coast MPAs

Media Contact:
Jordan Traverso, DFG Communications, (916) 654-9937
The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) today selected Jan. 1, 2012 as the effective date for implementation of the marine protected areas (MPAs) in Southern California. The revised effective date is for the South Coast Study Region, which spans from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to the U.S./Mexico border.
On Dec. 15, 2010 the Commission adopted regulations to create a suite of MPAs in this study region. Developed pursuant the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), this network of 49 MPAs and three special closures covers approximately 354 square miles of state waters and represents approximately 15 percent of the region.
The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) requested clarification and further information, thus disapproving the original regulatory package. This ineffectuated the Commission’s previously selected implementation date of Oct. 1. All of the information requested by OAL is expected to be provided in time for the Commission to put the potential re-adoption of the regulatory package on its October agenda.
If re-adopted, the new effective date of Jan. 1, 2012, selected today, allows time for OAL to review and approve the re-submitted regulations, finalizing the lawmaking process. It also allows the Commission and Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to better inform affected ocean users of the new regulations.
For more information on the south coast MPAs or MLPA, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/southcoast.asp.