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View Full Version : MLPA issues! Get involved!



dockboy
02-18-2009, 12:04 PM
As many of of you know the Marine Life Protection Act is going through revisions to be implemented upon Southern California. With each meeting, the fishing closures grow. Now the group is targeting much of Catalina. Many of our beloved spots are effectively closed under these bans.

The political process has already started and the repeal of the bill is therefore unattainable. But our voices can still be heard. The stakeholders meeting will be held in Long Beach on the March 3-4. This is our chance to limit the closures and make sure that inaccurate and biased science does not close our waters forever.

We need coordination in our response to this process. These studies and the act as a whole does not consider the socio-economic affects of the closures. We are looking to lose not only our chances as private boaters, but to lose a massive chunk of our sportfishing waters.

Is it concidental that the stakeholders meetings will be held during LB Fred Hall Show? I wouldnt doubt it. Find your priorities please. If you can make the meetings at all, please show your support.

Here are is some info on the processes;

http://www.wonews.com/Blog.aspx?id=465&AuthorID=59062&t=STAKEHOLDER

Also check out the issue at the Bloody Decks forum website in the anchored posts under the Fishing Chit Chat and Inshore California boards. I am in no way promoting BD, as much as relaying the info to those here on the board. The moderators and members there are taking up the fight to the MLPA boards and providing accurate and timely info. Please check it out.

bluefin2na
02-19-2009, 10:11 AM
Please remember to be nice at these meetings. We do not need for these folks to think of us as loud mouth fishermen. Understand that many RSG members doing what they can in order to help everyone out on this matter. They understand that a way of life is at stake here, not only for the recreational fishermen, but for sport boat owners and crew members, along with tackle shops, boat dealerships, lobstermen, urchin divers, inshore hook an dline commerical guys, everyone stand to lose here.

To be honest there is not WIN / WIN here, we need to give up some areas to save others. Thats the hard part, also please remember that "SOME" MPAs you can still fish in.

These meetings are important to show up at, get in the know of what is really going on. There is a lot of misinformation out there and its getting worst. Contact your RSG members
and some are members on this site.....

This is going to happen no question about it, your RSG is working very hard with your best interest at heart...

See ya at Fred Hall

Tommy