Ocean Protection Wins Key Support

Protection of key parts of California's ocean habitat won support from the Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/brtf_sc.asp yesterday, despite a noisy and misleading campaign by groups funded by foreign fishing equipment manufacturers.





This is the second skirmish this year in the effort to carry out the Marine Life Protection Act, passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Davis in1999, and the focus of an aggressive implementation effort by the Schwarzenegger Administration since 2004.

After listening to hundreds of local business owners, environmentalists, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in their call for strong ocean protection measures, the Blue Ribbon Task Force voted unanimously to recommend a compromise marine protected area plan for southern California’s coastal ocean.





Ocean habitat protection advocates http://www.caloceans.org say the Task Force's plan is a step in the right direction, and includes critical protections for iconic places like south La Jolla , Point Dume, and Naples Reef while leaving nearly 90 percent of the coast open for fishing. However, they say, it falls short of scientists' recommendations at Rocky Point Palos Verdes, and Catalina Island. 



Scientists say setting aside ecological hot spots--those super productive canyons, reefs, and kelp forests that act as fish nurseries--the overall health and sustainability of southern California's ocean and fisheries will be improved. That’s not only good for ocean habitat, but good for the California coastal economy that is connected to the ocean through tourism, recreation, and other small businesses.



In his letter to the Task Force, Mayor Villaraigosa said he was committed “to ensuring the future health and vitality of our coast” and “strongly support[s} the Marine Life Protection Act process and the establishment of a network of marine protect areas along the southern California coast.” The Mayor supported the strongest measure, known as Map 3, saying it was the "only map which adequately protects the critical areas and high quality habitats necessary to ensure that fisheries can recover and be healthy for generations to come...Such protections will not only protect what is left of precious ecosystems, but it will also keep our region's fishing industry sustainable for future generations. In a state where our economic activity is largely fueled by the health of our coastal resources, it is vital we invest in our ocean future."





The Task Force's recommendation came despite a misleading propaganda campaign mounted by the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans http://www.somethingsfishyaboutpso.com,, a Beltway-based group heavily funded by overseas fishing equipment manufacturers. On the eve of the BRTF meeting, the group issued a press release with the phony results of a "push" poll that was dismissed by ocean advocates and local government officials for forcing respondents to make a false choice between supporting the economy and protecting the ocean. Marine Life Protection Act supporters pointed out that hundreds of small businesses benefit from tourism and sustainable fisheries. PSO also overstated possible economic losses and misrepresented impacts on the local economy.





The Task Force will present their recommendation to the California Fish & Game Commission on December 9, and the Commission is expected to make a final decision next summer.