The Coalition has participated in all aspects of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, contributing significant resources to coordinating and delivering stakeholder input from economically important fishing communities. The California Fisheries Coalition supports a sustainable, ecosystem-based approach to marine conservation, including the establishment of Marine Protected Areas that take fishing regulations and socioeconomic impacts into account.

The Coalition represents people whose livelihoods and recreation depend on a healthy, productive marine environment. With their experience on the ocean, commercial and recreational fishermen contribute great depth to our understanding of California's marine ecosystem.

The Coalition believes that any successful effort to conserve the vibrancy of California's marine ecosystems must carry the support of those whose livelihoods depend on the ocean.

Now, through the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, California has an historic opportunity to create a network of marine protected areas that will enjoy the support of fishermen and central coast fishing communities. The California Fisheries Coalition offers a win-win solution for the MLPA: protection for both the marine environment and historic fishing communities.

Our Member Organizations:

Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries
American Albacore Fishing Association
California Abalone Growers
California Lobster & Trap Association
California Fisheries & Seafood Institute
California Sea Urchin Commission
California Wetfish Producers Association
Central Coast Fisheries Conservation Coalition
Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara Inc.
Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters
Fishermen's Alliance of California
Fishermen's Association of Moss Landing
Golden Gate Fishermen's Association
I.S.P. Alginates Kelp Harvesters
Kingfisher Trading Inc.
Monterey Commercial Fishermen's Association
Morro Bay Commercial Fisherman's Organization
Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen's Association
Recreational Fishing Alliance
South Central Nearshore Trap Organization
Southern CA Trawlers Association
Sportfishing Association of California
Ventura County Commercial Fishermen's Association

Statement of Purpose and Guiding Principles

THE PURPOSE of the California Fisheries Coalition is to provide a mechanism for recreational and commercial fishing groups to work together in a proactive manner on the MLPA Initiative to ensure a credible, fair, and science-based outcome. Participating groups all recognize that by working together and focusing on their core values they increase the likelihood that they will be able to maximize the resource conservation benefits and minimize the detrimental economic impacts derived from improving an MPA network in California. The CFC will pool resources (e.g., knowledge, time and money) from the participating organizations and persons to increase efficiency and impact for all.

CFC participants agree to respect each others' expertise and to strive for consensus. They also agree to listen respectfully to each other, seek clarification, stay on the subject at hand, and be open and flexible when exploring solutions and developing recommendations. Those who find they are unable, for whatever reason, to constructively take part in the CFC collaboration will voluntarily withdraw from participating rather than potentially hinder the work of the others.

CFC participants recognize that their respective groups will not necessarily always agree on all marine or fishery policies. That recognition, however, does not preclude the groups from working collaboratively on the MLPA Initiative.

THE CALIFORNIA FISHERIES COALITION ENDORSES THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES:

1. Implementation of MLPA requires consideration of all impacts to the marine environment when designating MPAs for the purpose of protecting existing unique areas or for the purpose of enhancing marine areas, e.g., those areas with the most potential for improvement via the protections from MPA status are candidates for designation.

2. Existing MPAs and closed areas should be evaluated and modified before new MPAs or reserves are created.

3. A prerequisite to implementation of MLPA is a recognition that fishery management often has the same goals as the MLPA and therefore fishery management must be integrated in an improved MPA network so as to minimize social, biological and economic consequences while still accomplishing MLPA goals.

4. The MLPA program must ensure that MPAs have clear and measurable goals and objectives and provide a clear process for adding, deleting or modifying MPAs.

5. MPAs and reserves must have an effective complement of enforcement and management measures to support monitoring and adaptive management changes in the future.

6. Implementation of the MLPA must incorporate objective scientific peer review of baseline assessments, criteria, standards, monitoring, and management strategies.

7. The MLPA Initiative must ensure adequate long-term funding to cover the cost of on-going monitoring, enforcement and management of MPAs.

8. The MLPA program should strive to accumulate and develop the best science relative to the marine ecosystem and MPAs and not just be satisfied with what is easily available.

9. The MLPA program should include processes that maximize the use of fishermen and local communities in data gathering, monitoring and managing MPAs.

10. The designation of MPAs must protect and/or improve public access to the coast, marine environment and marine resources consistent with the State Coastal Act and the public trust doctrine supported in State law.