Ocean Zone News Blog

North Coast
by Dan Bacher
Tuesday Nov 3rd, 2009 3:19 PM
In this superb commentary, John and Barbara Stephens-Lewallen urge the California Assembly to stop the private takeover of California’s public trust ocean resources by the Resource Legacy Foundation.
California Assembly: Stop Funding MLPAI Process!

by John & Barbara Stephens-Lewallen, Mendocino Sea Vegetable Company

The tragic consequences of the private-foundation takeover of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (MLPAI) are spreading from California’s coastal communities to people dependent on ocean food for health. All ocean food providers in California are stressed by MLPAI permanent area closures either declared or threatened by the MLPAI process.

Written by Steve Chittock November 02, 2009 Daily Triplicate

More than 70 people showed up Thursday night to talk to officials involved with the effort to create marine protected areas along California’s coast.
A frank discussion focused on the fact that some North Coast residents, including fishermen, harbor commissioners and county supervisors, feel left out of the process.

And while many of the attendees left still frustrated, Marine Life Protection Act Initiative officials felt the session was a good step in developing communication with the community.

Posted: 11/01/2009

Steve Scheiblauer

Will the State’s Marine Protected Areas be a model for dealing with threats from over-fishing, climate change and habitat destruction? No, and here’s why.

A report by 21 international scientists studied the status of 10 large eco-systems. They found our California current eco-system to be the best managed. The likelihood of having sustainable fisheries here was 95 percent, confirming what NOAA says: West Coast fisheries are sustainable.

Malibu Surfside News

BY SUZANNE GULDIMANN

After three days of debate, discussion and input that included hours of public testimony from fishing advocates and Marine Protected Area proponents, the Blue Ribbon Task Force, appointed to choose one of three Marine Life Protection Act Initiative implementation plans to present to the Department of Fish and Game, opted to postpone their final decision until November.

Written by Kurt Madar, The Triplicate October 29, 2009

Timeline for public input questioned on eve of workshop
A change in the process for creating marine protected areas on the North Coast has opponents of additional protections feeling sidelined.

But representatives of the Marine Life Protection Act, the legislation responsible for crafting MPAs, claim the change was intended to al­low those same critics more ac­cess to the pro­cess.

The change pushes to the front end the opportunity for interested parties to create their own protection proposals.