MLPA News: Public Input Sought on Draft Proposals for North Coast Marine Protected Area

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 23, 2010

Contacts: Annie Reisewitz, MLPA Initiative, (858) 228-0526
Kirsten Macintyre,DFG Communications, (916) 322-8988


Public Input Sought on Draft Proposals for North Coast Marine Protected Areas
MLPA Initiative to hold five "open house" events for the Northern California community July 6-8

Open house events have been scheduled in northern California for the public to review and provide input on four draft proposals developed through the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative. The open houses will focus on draft marine protected area (MPA) proposals for the MLPA North Coast Study Region, which covers state waters from the California/Oregon border to Alder Creek near Point Arena in Mendocino County. Members of the public are invited to attend at any time during the day and evening sessions - in five locations throughout the study region - to visit informational stations and offer input.

Members of the MLPA North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group developed the draft MPA proposals during Round 2 of a three-round planning process. They will be on hand to answer questions and discuss how these ideas will help meet the goals of improved marine life, habitats and overall ecosystem health. MLPA Initiative staff, California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) staff, California State Parks staff and members of the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force will also be available.

"We are seeking additional input from the local community to help re-design California's marine protected areas into a cohesive coastal network that adequately protects diverse marine life and their habitats," said Ken Wiseman, executive director the MLPA Initiative. "These events offer members of the public one-on-one conversation opportunities with stakeholders and staff with regard to the draft MPA proposals and to directly provide their input."

The five open houses are scheduled for:

- Tuesday, July 6, 2010: 5:00-7:30 p.m., C.V. Starr Community Center, 300 South Lincoln Street, Fort Bragg, CA
- Wednesday, July 7, 2010: 8:00-10:00 a.m., The Octagon/Beginnings, 5 Cemetery Road, Briceland, CA
- Wednesday, July 7, 2010: 5:00-7:30 p.m., Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, 921 Waterfront Drive, Room 211, Eureka, CA
- Thursday, July 8, 2010: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Redwood National and State Parks, South Operations Center, 121200 Hwy. 101, Orick, CA
- Thursday, July 8, 2010: 5:00-7:30 p.m., Elk Valley Rancheria Community Center, 2332 Howland Hill Road, Crescent City, CA

At each open house the public will receive information about the four draft MPA proposals currently under consideration, as well as the various evaluations conducted by the MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team, DFG, California State Parks and MLPA Initiative staff. The open houses will also include information about the north coast MPA planning process, next steps in developing MPA proposals and opportunities for public feedback on the draft proposals. To view the Round 2 draft MPA proposals, please see http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/mpaproposals_nc.asp.

Members of the public do not have to attend an open house to provide input on the Round 2 draft MPA proposals; they may also provide input by completing an online form at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/mpaproposals_nc.asp. Print copies of the form may be obtained at a number of local libraries and government offices (for a list of locations, please see http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/libraries.pdf). Comments on the Round 2 draft MPA proposals will be most helpful if submitted no later than July 14, 2010, in order for the information to be distributed to regional stakeholder group and task force members prior to the start of Round 3.

Under the guidelines of a master plan for MPAs, the process to develop a recommendation for north coast MPAs involves, among other things, identifying marine species that may benefit from MPAs, considering existing marine protected areas, and developing MPAs that include a variety of habitats and water depths.

The MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force is overseeing the north coast MPA planning process and will make a final recommendation to the California Fish and Game Commission in December of this year.

Enacted in 1999, the MLPA directs the state to design and manage a system of marine protected areas in order to, among other things, protect marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems and marine natural heritage, as well as improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems. The California Natural Resources Agency and DFG have partnered with the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation in an initiative to help re-design the statewide system of MPAs to achieve these goals. The advice of scientists, resource managers, experts, stakeholders and members of the public guide this public-private partnership.

For additional information about the MLPA Initiative, please see http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa.

####