Ca Fisheries Coalition Website

http://www.cafisheriescoalition.org/


Great info on MLPA - Read Western Outdoors News as well.

Latest Statement from MLPA Task-force 05-15-09

California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Announcement

Who: MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Chair Don Benninghoven

What: Statement regarding progress in implementing the Marine Life

Protection Act Initiative (see below)

When: Earlier today

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Melissa Miller-Henson

May 14, 2009 530.400.2545

Ken Wiseman

916.533.6971

Chair Don Benninghoven Issues Statement on Progress in

Implementing the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative

Today MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Chair Don Benninghoven issued the following statement on the progress being made to implement the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative in California:

"Recently the MLPA Initiative has experienced strong criticism, which is to be expected when engaged in a significant, cutting-edge effort to provide for a more balanced use of our ocean. We are confident in our mission to hear and consider all perspectives as we move forward in southern California that we can balance efforts to provide maximum ocean protection while limiting short-term economic impacts.

“A collaboration of public and private partners is supporting a dedicated team of over 80 stakeholders, scientists and community partners to develop and release to the public in the next few weeks the first set of draft marine protected area proposals for the study region. The draft proposals identify different ways the state can reconfigure its marine protected areas to help ensure the state’s marine ecosystem has greater protection.

“Stakeholders are making tremendous strides in their efforts to maximize habitat protection while minimizing, to the extent possible, economic impacts. I applaud their efforts working as a team to consider multiple viewpoints on how best to redesign MPAs in California waters; in doing so they are also using the best readily available data that is displayed in a GIS-based system on the Internet that is available to everyone, including the public.

"This is an unparalleled effort to gather the best readily available science and data related to ocean ecosystems and marine protected areas and to apply it in the real world. With an ongoing public-private partnership providing a solid foundation of over $8 million in private funds for completing the redesign process along the coast and to begin planning in San Francisco Bay, we fully expect to complete our task in late 2010 as planned.

“In January of this year Secretary Mike Chrisman reiterated the Schwarzenegger Administration’s tireless commitment to completing this planning process and for ensuring adequate funding for implementation. He also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships, such as the MLPA Initiative, in making long-term management most effective, whether for enforcement, outreach, education or on-site management.

“Similar criticisms about the MLPA Initiative were made during the north central coast process in 2007 and, yet, in 2008 the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force forwarded to the commission four marine protected area proposals, including an integrated preferred alternative that was developed based upon the extensive work of 45 stakeholders representing a variety of interests during a 15-month redesign process. The integrated preferred alternative received support from a diversity of interests, from fishermen and divers to conservationists and the general public.

"Everyone agrees that healthy oceans are good for the economy. We are all stewards looking for a balanced use and protection of California’s marine resource for current and future generations. Next month we begin work in the north coast study region and expect to engage with another exceptional group of stakeholders and community partners to help California achieve this goal.”

______________________________

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Next Blue Ribbon - Webcast Only

California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Announcement

Who: MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force What: Seventh meeting and draft agenda (see attached)
When: Friday, May 8, 2009 at 12:00 noon
Where: Via conference call and webinar

Toll-free conference call (to participate during public comment) Dial-in number: 800.697.5978
Passcode: 5499680

Presentations via GoToMeeting (to view presentations in large format)

Make your reservation now at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/389320216

and via simultaneous webcast (on the day of the meeting only) at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings_sc.asp (to view/listen only

Road Trip for MLPA Staff

MLPA Initiative Staff and SCRSG Field Trip: Friday, April 30
On Friday, April 30 members of the SCRSG and MLPA Initiative staff are taking a field trip of the Oxnard-Malibu portion of the study region, beginning at the Channel Islands Harbor and ending at Malibu Bluff Park.

The public is invited to join us along the way.
Below is information about the stops we are making and the approximate time we will be arriving at each; we are likely to be a few minutes early or late for one or more stops, depending on traffic. Staff who will be available by cell phone during the day (especially if we are running late and you want an ETA) include Kelly Sayce (310.738.2665), Melissa Miller-Henson (530.400.2545) and Evan Fox (650.387.9306). If you are meeting us, look for the DFG van!

8:15 - 9:30 a.m. – Channel Islands HarborWe will be meeting at the launch ramp.

10:15 - 11:15 a.m. – Chumash VillageNicholas Canyon County Beach 33904 Pacific Coast HwyMalibu, CA 90265805-794-1248(The Village is south of the county parking lot. Head to northeast corner of parking lot and drive down access road to Village entrance and park inside project site)

1:30 - 2:00 p.m. – Paradise Cove 28128 Pacific Coast HwyMalibu, CA 90265(Tell parking attendant you are meeting with the MLPA Initiative)

2:15 - 3:00 p.m. - Malibu Bluff Park 24250 Pacific Coast HwyMalibu, CA 90265

Map of tour locations can be found at: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=103609279872483057979.000466e65d39df97eccb2

Next Meeting - 4-28-09

California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Announcement

Who: MLPA South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group
What: REVISED Meeting Agenda

When: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.
Where: Residence Inn by Marriott at River Ridge

2101 West Vineyard Avenue - Oxnard, California - 93036

Via simultaneous webcast on the day of the meeting at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings_sc.asp

Note: Agenda item "L" and agenda section "VI" have been moved up to 9:45 a.m. (approximately), therefore agenda items B-K will be delayed by approximately an hour. The April 28 meeting is still scheduled to adjourn at 6:00 p.m.

Next Meeting of the MLPA

California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Announcement


Who: MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team

What: Seventh meeting and draft agenda (see below)

When: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. and Monday, April 6, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.

Where: Los Angeles (April 1) and teleconference/webinar (April 6), and on the day of
the meeting (for viewing or listening only), via simultaneous webcast at
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings_sc.asp. See details below.

California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team
Draft Meeting Agenda
(revised March 19, 2009)

Wednesday, April 1, 2009
9:30 AM

Embassy Suites Hotel North*
9801 Airport Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90254

AND

Monday, April 6, 2009
1:30 PM
Via teleconference and online meeting (webinar)

Toll-free conference call
Dial-in number: 800.697.5978
Passcode: 8527564

Presentations via GoToMeeting
Make your reservation now at
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/686253834

Public participation: On Wednesday April 1, members of the public are invited to attend the meeting in person or may view and listen to the meeting only via simultaneous webcasting on the Internet (see the MLPA website (www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings_sc.asp) for more information about simultaneous webcasting). On Monday, April 6, members of the public are invited to attend the meeting and provide comment using the toll-free phone number and to watch presentations via the webinar link, or may use the MLPA offices listed above to listen, watch and provide comment. It is important that members of the public attending the meeting via conference call clearly state their first and last name when prompted by the operator to ensure that you are able to provide comments. Both portions of the meeting may be viewed in an archived version approximately two days after the meeting.

Public comment: The public will be invited by the co-chairs to offer comments on agenda action items. General comments on the work of the MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team (SAT), not directed to specific agenda items, will be taken after lunch at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 and at approximately 3:15 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2009. Note that the general comment period is for comments specific to the MLPA SAT; comments related to the regional stakeholder group, task force or other MLPA Initiative activities should be directed to those bodies or MLPA staff. Meeting materials will not be provided at the meeting but will be posted to the MLPA website as soon as they are available. This agenda may be found on the MLPA website at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings_sc.asp.


Meeting Objectives
· Discuss and potentially approve the MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team (SAT) response to the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) request regarding U.S. Department of Defense "military use areas"
· Review, discuss and potentially approve level of protection designations
· Review, discuss and potentially approve the SAT evaluations of draft external marine protected area (MPA) proposals and MLPA South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (SCRSG) draft MPA arrays
· Review, discuss and potentially approve the water quality evaluation methods for MPA proposals in the MLPA South Coast Study Region
· Review and discuss draft document regarding beach manipulation activities in the MLPA South Coast Study Region
· Review and potentially approve SAT responses to questions from the MLPA SCRSG