Recreational Fishermen Participation Helps Advance Conservation Proposal to the California Fish & Game Commission

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) voted late yesterday to advance the three existing proposed alternatives for the MLPA North Central Coast Phase to the Fish and Game Commission (FGC). It then created a fourth BRTF Composite proposal that was also forwarded to the FGC as a BRTF preferred alternative. The BRTF will present these four proposals to the FGC at a June 2008 meeting. The Commission will take public comments throughout the summer on each of these four proposals and vote to implement one of them at a meeting later this summer.

Upon the FGC’s final vote, the North Central Coast Phase in this process will conclude and the Southern California Phase (encompassing Point Conception to the Mexican border) will begin.

Of the four alternatives, Proposal 2-XA, supported by the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO), remains the option with the highest conservation value and least economic impact while minimizing unnecessary closures to recreational fishing.

“The Partnership is a key player in this process, and we firmly believe Proposal 2XA achieves the balance we all seek in terms of protecting ocean resources and allowing recreational fishing in designated areas,” said Partnership member Patty Doerr, Ocean Resource Policy Director, American Sportfishing Association. “We commend the task force for advancing Proposal 2-XA, and thank all of the anglers and boaters who took the time to attend meetings, write letters, make calls and send emails. We look forward to the Fish and Game Commission embracing the benefits offered by proposal 2-XA.”

Several hundred recreational fishermen attended the BRTF hearing to show their unified support for Proposal 2XA, while thousands more sent emails and letters of support.

For frequent updates about the PSO’s efforts on behalf of recreational fishermen within the MLPA process, please visit www.keepamericafishing.org.