TAKE ACTION!
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The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) unanimously voted October 26 to forward a community-based marine protected area (MPA) proposal for the north coast. The MPA proposal, developed by the 33-member north coast regional stakeholder group (NCRSG), will be presented to the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) together with a modified enhanced compliance alternative MPA proposal and other recommendations on February 2, 2011 in Sacramento.
As usual, the devil is in the details. Check back here for more information when the exact wording of the BRTF's adopted motions related to their action becomes available.
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MLPA implementation for the South Coast Study Region is entering the regulatory phase before the California Fish & Commission. The California Fisheries Coalition and our member organizations invite you to join us in support of Proposal 2.
The Fish & Game Commission's deliberations and decision making will take place during a number of meetings this year--perhaps even into 2011. During this time, there will be many opportunities to add your voice to our advocacy for a fair and balanced outcome--one that not only benefits the marine environment, but also sustains the health of our coastal economies. To keep up with the process, you will want to visit this page frequently.
During the February 2, 2007 Fish & Game Commission meeting in Monterey, distinguished California Deputy Attorney General, Bill Cunningham explained to the Fish & Game Commission and the public the implications of the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act for the conduct of the various advisory panels that comprise the MLPA Initiative:
SAVE THE DATE:
The Fish & Game Commission meeting in Folsom on November 17-18 has been cancelled due to lack of a quorum.
The Fish & Game Commission met in San Diego on October 20-21. Most of the first day was devoted to receipt of public testimony on MLPA MPAs for the South Coast Study Region.
The Fish & Game Commission met in McClellan (Sacramento County) on Sept. 29th.
They voted unanimously to extend the DEIR public commentary by an additional 15 days, to October 19th, 2010. Memorable Quote: "Use this time wisely."
At their Sept. 16th meeting, the F&G Commission voted to hold a special meeting on Wednesday, September 29th. for discussion and consideration of possible extension of public review and comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the South Coast Study Region beyond the current October 4th deadline.
The best way to fully understand the significance of that particular Commission decision is to view the following video excerpt from the Sept. 16 meeting. (Please click the play button below to view)
WHY PROPOSAL 2?
Proposal 2 was developed by South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group 2 (SCRSG2) using the Fisheries Information Network & Committee proposal (External A) as a starting point. SCRSG2 and FIN/FIC members joined with a small army of concerned citizens to spend hundreds of hours in collaborative negotiations at numerous meetings up and down the coast. Attending these meetings were state legislators, city council members, county supervisors, representatives of ports, harbors, chambers of commerce and other coastal dependent entities.
The end result of this unprecedented effort to gain the widest possible cross-interest support was Proposal 2. SCRSG2 endeavored to meet design guidelines while balancing them with socio-economic impacts, an equilibrium necessary to gaining the local support essential to MPA success. Taken as a whole, Proposal 2 would result in much lower negative socio-economic impacts than the other alternatives, without compromising any significant conservation benefits.
