Sign This Petition: Halt The MLPA Initiative

To: The Honorable Wesley Chesbro

California Assemblymember, 1st Assembly District

Assemblymember Chesbro,
We the undersigned believe that the implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act,(MLPA), by the so called public - private partnership between the State and billion dollar foundations, known as the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative, (MLPAI), has become a time driven (process funding deadlines), rather than a results (ecosystem /communities) driven process. The potential damage to fisheries, port infrastructure, and quality of life to the citizens of California, becomes more apparent each day, and nowhere is this more apparent than on the The North Coast. This is poor public policy!

Furthermore, there is ample evidence that much of the science being used in this endeavor is speculative, incomplete, and fails to consider current fisheries management.

Because of the overall lack of proper expertise on the part of the Blue Ribbon Task Force, (BRTF), the Science Advisory Team, (SAT), has been given a de facto role as policy makers, which is an altogether improper role for these scientists.

Therefore, we strongly support your call for a six (6) month extension of the North Coast Study Area,(NCSA) to allow the local stakeholders to devise a network of reserves that meet the unique nature and needs, of the NCSR.

Additionally, we urge you, to use your unique position and qualifications to hold in-depth hearings, at the earliest possible time, on the MLPAI, its’ relationship to state agencies and the influence of non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), on the process, to give the proper legislative oversight on the implementation of the MLPA.

Michael A Carpenter
Albion Harbor Regional Alliance
PO box 122
Albion Ca. 95410
707-937-4362

The Albion Reel Blog
http://thealbionreel.blogspot.com/



Six extra months into 2011, is all that is being asked for, to do this thing right. We are going to have to live with the Marine Life Protection Act for a long, long time.

SIGN NOW
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/saveoceanacsess/
The Petition Is Up To Slow It Down
The Marine Life Protection Act 'Initiative' PROCESS
Slow Down The MLPA TRAIN


Petitions will be delivered by Mike Carpenter (urchin diver, AHRA Board member, and currently on the California Sea Urchin Commission) in support of Assemblymember Wes Chesbro's request to Lester Snow on 08 09 2010.

Chesbro, the chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, has asked California Resources Secretary Lester Snow to delay the controversial process for at least six months to “ensure that environmental protection is balanced with traditional access rights.” Chesbro made the request in a recent meeting with Snow, according to a news release from Chesbro’s office.

Tribes have been adamant in their discussions that we are not 'recreational' therefore our perspectives are not validated nor acknowledged, North Coast Regional Stakeholder Atta Stevenson stated. "We cannot wait and see but must take the lead in whatever venue is open to us."

"We support Chesbro's call for a six month extension," said Jim Martin, West Coast Regional Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance and officially the Mendocino County MLPA Outreach Coordinator. "The MLPA Initiative has been rushed in every region, but never as rushed as in the North Coast Region." Martin said he was looking forward to the Joint Legislative Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture hearings on the MLPA Initiative that Chesbro is calling for this fall.

Tribal members and fishermen praised Chesbro for calling for a delay in the implementation of the MLPA Initiative.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/08/11/18655875.php

In the August 9th Press Release, Chesbro said "what is imperative is that the implementation process be driven by local participation, the plan that is developed must be supported by those most affected by it. To that end, the North Coast needs more time for all the stakeholders to work out among themselves the best possible solutions."
http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a01/News_Room/Press/20100809AD01PR01.aspx

"I have met with Resources Secretary Lester Snow and strongly urged him to slow down the process and that no action be taken by the Blue Ribbon Task Force for at least six months to allow more time to develop a plan that protects marine life and balances the access rights of traditional user groups," Chesbro said. "I am confident that given enough time we can develop a workable solution between the fishing community, North Coast tribes and environmentalists. And there has been some movement in this direction. This is something that cannot be rushed."


On August 17, the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO), a coalition of conservation and fishing industry organizations, announced that it "fully supports" the request by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro to delay the implementation of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's fast-track Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative on the North Coast.
http://www.keepamericafishing.org/california/pso.html
and
http://www.oceanaccessprotectionfund.org/


RECENTLY Assemblymember Chesbro asked California Resources Secretary Lester Snow for a six-month delay in the controversial process to allow more time to develop a plan that balances marine conservation with access for the public and traditional user groups. To date, Snow has not responded to Chesbro's request.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/08/18/18656309.php


AHRA
In Southern Mendocino County, Albion Harbor Regional Alliance is supporting Chesbro's call to slow this runaway train down with a PETITION DRIVE.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/saveoceanacsess/

Begun August 17th 2010, read about it at The Albion Reel Blog:
http://thealbionreel.blogspot.com/2010/08/petition-in-support-of-assemblymember.html


Fighting The Lie Of The Marine Life Protection Act
Sign a petition to support Wes Chesbro Six months halt of the Marine Life Protection Act. This was a good law but we are being railroaded into a time span that is too short and Public Process rules have been broken in the push to cajole the public and resource dependent working class coastal communities into going along with this complex process.

We are asking for more time and for the legislators to look into the process. Please sign and show your support to halt the MLPAi.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/saveoceanacsess/

THANK YOU. WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS PETITION SUCCEED
Visit the Albion Harbor Regional Alliance website: