| Interested members of the public are invited to comment on the Round 3 Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (NCRSG) Marine Protected Area (MPA) Proposal and NCRSG Special Closures Recommendation, according to an announcement from the MLPA Initiative on September 28.
In contrast with other regions, the North Coast stakeholders, including Indian Tribes, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, businesses, seaweed harvesters and environmentalists, adopted a single marine protected area proposal to be submitted to the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force.
"The public is invited to provide written and/or verbal comments to help inform the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) at its October 25-26, 2010 meeting," the announcement stated. "Feedback on specific MPAs or special closures, including boundaries, designation type, proposed allowed uses (take regulations) and general location is valuable."
Over 300 people including members of 50 Indian Tribes, environmentalists, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, immigrant seafood industry workers and human rights activists peacefully took over the task force's previous meeting in Fort Bragg on July 21 to protest the violation of tribal rights and greenwashing that has occurred under the controversial MLPA Initiative. As the protesters marched on the meeting, they shouted "MLPA, taking tribal rights away" and "No Way, MLPA."
MLPA critics have blasted the so-called marine protected areas created under this process for completely taking oil drilling, water pollution, military testing, habitat destruction and other human uses of the ocean other than fishing and gathering off the table. The Blue Ribbon Task Forces that oversee the MLPA process are dominated by oil industry, real estate, marina development and other corporate interests. In fact, Catherine Reheis-Boyd, the chair of the Western States Petroleum Association, chaired the South Coast Task Force and now sits on the North Coast Task Force.
The public can submit comments the following ways:
WRITTEN COMMENTS
Written comments are encouraged to be submitted by October 18, 2010 so that BRTF members can receive and review them prior to the October 25-26 meeting. Written comments received between October 19 and 21 will be provided to the BRTF at the October meeting; after October 21, written comments must be submitted at the BRTF meeting in Fortuna. Written comments can be submitted via:
Online: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/rou... (through October 18 only)
Email: MLPAComments [at] resources.ca.gov
Mail: Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
c/o California Natural Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916.653.8102, Attn: MLPA Initiative
VERBAL COMMENTS
MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Meeting
October 25-26, 2010
River Lodge Conference Center
1800 Riverwalk Drive
Fortuna, CA 95540
The public is invited to provide verbal comments at the upcoming BRTF meeting in Fortuna. Wall maps of the Round 3 NCRSG MPA Proposal and Round 3 NCRSG Special Closures Recommendation will be available for public viewing at the meeting location.
Public comment will begin at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 25, 2010. Helpful public comment includes:
Feedback on specific MPAs or special closures, including boundaries, designation type, proposed allowed uses (take regulations) and general location. Do you support what is being proposed? If not, can you offer a specific change to the MPA boundaries, designation type, proposed allowed uses and/or general location that would make it more acceptable?
Feedback on the complete proposal.
As an alternative to attending the meeting in Fortuna, the public is welcome to attend a public participation location to view the meeting and/or provide public comment:
CV Starr Community Center
300 South Lincoln Street
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
Location TBD
Crescent City, CA
The public will also have an opportunity to comment on any BRTF action items. Please refer to the attached document, Guidelines for Providing Public Comment to the MLPA Initiative North Coast Project for additional information.
Background
At its August 30-31, 2010 meeting, the MLPA North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (NCRSG) developed a single MPA proposal in Round 3 of the north coast MPA planning process; the NCRSG also developed a recommendation for special closures. The MPA proposal and special closures will be analyzed by the MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team, California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Parks and Recreation, and MLPA Initiative staff. The proposal and special closures will also be reviewed by the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force at its October 25-26, 2010 meeting in Fortuna.
Information about the Round 3 NCRSG MPA Proposal and Round 3 NCRSG Special Closures Recommendation are available:
Online: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/mpa...
MarineMap: http://northcoast.marinemap.org/ (under the "MPA Proposals" tab)
Name of the proposal is Round 3 NCRSG MPA Proposal
Name of the special closures recommendation is Round 3 NCRSG Special Closures Recommendation
Print or CD: Contact the MLPA office at mlpaoffice [at] resources.ca.gov or 916.654.1885 |
