North Coast MLPA milestone: Protecting the ocean and traditional tribal gathering

At today’s Fish and Game Commission meeting, Resources Secretary Laird unveiled a plan to support both continued traditional tribal gathering and improved ocean protection via a system of marine protected areas on California’s north coast, earning the approval of tribal leaders, elected officials, and conservationists.

Everyone involved in the Marine Life Protection Act planning process on the north coast has been unanimous on the importance of respecting traditional tribal cultural practices. The unified community plan put forth by local stakeholders was designed to avoid favored gathering grounds (as well as local harbors, to minimize impacts on both tribes and fishing fleets), and was praised by Secretary Laird, tribal leaders, and representatives from Senator Evans and Assemblymember Chesbro’s offices.

Secretary Laird’s proposed approach to ensure continued tribal harvest built on the community plan, providing a way for the state to implement critically needed protections for iconic sites like south Cape Mendocino, Ten-Mile Beach, and Pyramid Point while preserving traditional cultural practices.

“Getting to this point has taken the sweat and work of many many groups, including the stakeholders, tribal representatives, Commission and Department staff, and others… Everyone has really put their best foot forward to bring us this close to a solution,” said Secretary Laird.

Hawk Rosales, Executive Director of the InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council said, “You have listened carefully to our concerns. Together we have achieved an extraordinary result. The approach we endorse today is result of an historic level of cooperation between the state and many California tribes. We will build on these strong relationships together so we can achieve our shared goals of protecting marine resources and while at the same time honoring traditionalways.”

“We second Secretary Laird’s comments about the need to look at the science, keep building trust, and keep the momentum going,” said Karen Garrison of NRDC. “We’re looking for solutions that are good for the ocean, good for tribal traditional use, andgood for the region. This is a critical milestone; let’s finish the job.”

“Secretary Laird’s leadership, and the goodwill and tireless commitment of the tribes, fishermen, divers and environmentalists who worked so hard to come to agreement, have created a historic opportunity to protect both the north coast’s unsurpassed ocean wildlife and rich cultural history of traditional tribal gathering,” said Kaitilin Gaffney of Ocean Conservancy.

The Commission voted four to one to adopt the community plan, with Secretary Laird’s tribal overlay, as their “preferred project.” That project, along with two alternatives, will now undergo environmental review. There will be several more opportunities for public comment before a final decision is made in early 2012.