WE NEED YOUR HELP!
MARINE LIFE PROTECTION ACT PROPOSALS COULD SINK SPORTFISHING!!

Proposals developed by a team of scientists with expertise in marine life protection could have a devastating impact on sportfishing along our south coast, and SAC is asking every salt water angler to express his or her outrage with the number, size, location and restrictions included in the set of Draft Concepts described in detail on the DFG home page, at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa. In addition, I encourage you to write to the DFG, the Director, and the Governor to express your thoughts on this set of proposals! In addition, I urge you to contact your elected state Senator or Assemblyperson, and tell them how upset you are with this process.

SAMPLE LETTER
(Use as guide, and add your thoughts as appropriate)

Written comments can be sent to any or all of those listed below:

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Paul Reilly
Dept. of Fish & Game
20 Lower Ragsdale Dr., Suite 100
Monterey, CA 93940

Director Bob Hight
CA Dept. of Fish & Game
1416 9th St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

Gov. Gray Davis
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Subject: Concerns for Marine Life Protection Act Draft Proposals.

Dear :

As an avid angler, I have always been aware of the need to conserve our marine fishery resources, and I am an advocate of catch and release and support the idea of taking only what you need, not your limit. While I do consider myself a conservationist, I still believe in the need to provide access for recreational angling opportunity, and so I am very upset with the proposals that would deny me the right to fish on certain waters of the state of California.

The Marine Life Protection Act Draft Concepts, if adopted, would take away the very fishing grounds that are important to me, and push all fishing activity on what areas are left open. This can't help but impact those habitats that are left open, creating conflicts between fishermen on the water and additional impacts on resident fish stocks. While the implementation and study of a relative few no-take areas may be of long term benefit to the management of our marine fisheries, this set of proposals is clear over-kill!

I understand that the Marine Reserves Working Group for the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has worked for two years in an effort to reach concensus on a network of marine protected areas, and that this body has come up with some 'common ground' areas for marine reserves at the Channel Islands. Perhaps we should start with that no-take alternative, agreed to by a diverse group of fishing, state and federal agency and environmental representatives, and then use this set of no-take areas to determine just how successful this management tool can be in maintaining the health of marine resources and their habitats. This 'incremental' approach would have broad support, and could prove if this 'experimental' management tool is really effective.

Since the Marine Life Protection Act has no required amount of waters that must be put into marine protected areas, the approach suggested above would begin the MLPA process without the damaging economic impacts that would be associated with adoption of any of the suggested closures outlined by the "Master Planning Team" created by the MLPA.

Please give serious consideration to supporting this approach, and if the state still determines that it must go forward with any of the more damaging proposals, I urge you to support the development of economic impact analyses for the areas you propose to close. Not only will the sport and commercial fishermen lose, there will be damaging impacts on many support industries, including CPFV (commercial passenger fishing vessel) boat owners, operators, crews, Landings, fishing tackle sales, private boat sales, transportation, lodging, food, fuel, outdoor travel providers, etc.

The biggest decline in marine fish has occurred in the rock fish complex, and those declines have been the result of ocean conditions. Recently those conditions have changed, and this year scientific surveys showed high levels of rock fish eggs and larvae.
At the present time there is a 4,200 square mile permanent closure off southern California,
the 'Cow Cod Conservation Area', that will protect and help restore the entire rock fish complex. With more favorable ocean conditions and the above mentioned closure in place, these draconian closed areas are not necessary! Please let common sense prevail!

Thank you for your consideration, and I hope to hear something encouraging soon.

Sincerely,

Your Name (and if appropriate company)

Letters sent in the next few weeks are important, because the planning team of the MLPA will be reviewing the siting workshops, the public comments and any other input, and then coming out with a revised set of proposed closures this fall. Please get your friends and fellow anglers involved, and listen to Let's Talk Hook-Up and read the Western Outdoor News for the dates of the Fish & Game Commission hearings, which will be held this winter. We can make a difference!