North coast Marine Life Protection Act: State officials support community plan

For the first time in the six-year MLPA process, in which local stakeholders map out proposed protections for their stretch of the coast, the Commission was meeting to review a unified marine protected area plan with near-unanimous community support.

The unified plan was designed by north coast fishermen, conservationists, business owners, and tribal leaders, and endorsed unanimously by policy experts on the Blue Ribbon Task Force. North coast stakeholders were the only regional group to agree on a single plan, rather than sending on competing alternatives for state officials to compare.

The plan would protect about 13% of state waters between Alder Creek and the Oregon border, including Ten-Mile, South Cape Mendocino, Reading Rock and Pyramid Point. It would also protect traditional tribal harvest, and avoid harbors to ensure safe access to fishing grounds for local fleets.

The local plan has the support of all of the coastal cities, counties and harbor districts in the region as well as more than 40 fishing, environmental and agency groups. The community's approval was evident from the public comment session at today’s meeting, in which 70 citizens spoke about the importance of a healthy ocean for the north coast’s economy and way of life, expressing support for the community generated marine protected area plan.

In the end the Commission offered unanimous support for the local plan and directed staff to follow the guidance provided at the beginning of the meeting by Resources Secretary John Laird to try to identify a path forward that would respect continued tribal traditional uses in north coast marine protected areas. Secretary Laird’s direction was received favorably by the more than 20 north coast tribes in attendance, who thanked MLPA staff and decision-makers for working to address their concerns.

Today’s meeting is just the start of the Commission’s review process, which will include an environmental assessment and several more opportunities for public input. To date, according to Blue Ribbon Task Force member Cindy Gustafson, 1,900 north coast residents have participated in the process. Area residents will continue to have a strong voice as the Commission considers the proposed protections.

For more information about the Marine Life Protection Act, visit http://www.caloceans.org or http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa.