URGENT - MLPA info, decisions are being made

I posted this in politics but it is URGENT so I posted it here too.  Sorry if it doesn't belong here but more people read reports than any other topic so here we go.

It has been brought to my attention that there is debate going on over the N. Coast MLPA map.  The specific areas being debated for closure are Gerstle Cove to Sea Ranch vs Sea Ranch to Gualala.  It comes down to us to voice our opinion for the areas we want to keep open for diving and fishing.  Sea Ranch already has limited access.  Our coastline from Gerstle to Sea Ranch provides some of the safest and most utilized diving on that part of our coastline.  Please e-mail the Representatives listed in the link below and  let them know you want to offer Sea Ranch to Gualala as the area to CLOSE for the MLPA and leave Salt Point State Park open for fishing and diving.  Your input is essential and must be done by Saturday.  Please help save our dive spots.  Call me at home if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Dave Sereni 707-542-6706
Contact Information

 
Fax
916.653.8102
Attn: MLPA Initiative
Mail
MLPA Initiative
c/o California Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
MLPA Initiative Staff
Ken Wiseman
Executive Director
[email protected]
916.653.5674
Melissa Miller-Henson
Operations & Communications Manager
[email protected]
916.654.2506
California Department of Fish and Game Staff
Susan Ashcraft
MPA Project Supervisor
[email protected]
916.651.7670
Steve Martarano
MLPA Public Information Officer
[email protected]
916.654.5866
John Ugoretz
MLPA Policy Advisor
[email protected]

Dave have you spoken to Sean about this? He is our rep for the MLPA process up there.

I spoke to Sean earlier today.  We are working together on this.  I have a lot of friends in the dive community who are getting involved to help.  Thanks for keeping my post up Bill.  I posted this same message on Coastside and they deleted it immediately.  Can of worms I guess.  I just wanted to let people know it was going down right now and their input matters. 

Thanx Dave, am emailing now...

This is the letter I e-mailed today to Fish and Game MLPA.

It has been brought to my attention that there is debate going on over the N. Coast MLPA map.  I believe the specific areas being debated for closure are Gerstle Cove to Black Point vs Black Point to Gualala.  Our coastline from Gerstle to Black Point provides some of the safest and most utilized fishing and diving on that part of our coastline. Sea Ranch on the other hand has 5 public acces points with 4 parking spaces each and provides very little safe diving or kayak fishing in less than optimal conditions.  I would like to vote for "Black Point to Gualala" as the MLPA area and leave "Gerstle Cove to Black Point" open for fishing and diving.  
Sincerely,
Dave Sereni
Santa Rosa
If you like it you can just copy it change the name and send it off.  It would take 2 seconds and may save some great kayak fishing areas for all of us.
Thanks,
Dave

Here is a little more info on it.  e-mail to the link below
California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative AnnouncementWhat: Initial suggestions for potential MPA proposals within the MLPA North Central Coast Study Region (Alder Creek/Point Arena in Mendocino County to Pigeon Point in San Mateo County)

When: Initial suggestions for potential MPA proposals must be submitted via email or by standard mail to arrive no later than 12:00 noon on Thursday, October 4.

Where: Initial suggestions for potential MPA proposals must be submitted via email to [email protected] or by standard mail to:

Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
c/o California Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814

Details: The North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (NCCRSG) is the primary source of alternative marine protected area proposals to the MLPA Initiative Blue Ribbon Task Force; however, the MLPA Initiative is an open, transparent process and it is possible others will submit MPA proposals to the task force and the NCCRSG for their review and consideration. Initial suggestions for potential MPA proposals within the MLPA North Central Coast Study Region (Alder Creek/Point Arena in Mendocino County to Pigeon Point in San Mateo County) are welcome through 12:00 noon on Thursday, October 4, 2007.

Initial suggestions for potential MPA proposals must be made using the template for draft MPA proposals available on the MLPA website at www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/agenda_082207m.pdf. While additional information may also be provided, providing the requested information in the template format will facilitate staff preparation of maps (geographic information system – GIS – shape files are welcome with your submission!).

All initial suggestions for potential MPA proposals, MPA proposals, and assessments of proposals will be made public. Similar proposals may be jointly assessed and any proposal determined to be sufficiently at variance with the Marine Life Protection Act may not warrant further assessment. Initial suggestions for potential MPA proposals must be submitted via email to [email protected] or by standard mail (to arrive no later than 12:00 noon on Thursday, October 4) to:

Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
c/o California Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311

My understanding is that Sea Ranch to Gualala, because of it's longer distance from the nearest port (Bodega Bay) and limited shore access, is considered by some as a "de facto reserve".  In other words, the thought is that because limited fishing occurs there now, there is less need to protect it.   In my opinion, this should make Sea Ranch to Gualala an excellent choice for an MPA reserve, this area has received less fishing pressure and therefore the habitat and fish populations are closer to achieving the supposed goals of MPAs.  There is also the added benefit of the community at Sea Ranch being able to police the area of arrant fishing vessels.

However, if they go ahead and make Gerstle Cove to Sea Ranch a reserve I can't imagine that the area between Sea Ranch and Gualala will maintain it's "de facto reserve" status for long.  I know as a kayak angler I'll simply take the time to drive the extra 15 mins north, something I don't do now because Salt Point is "good enough and a bit closer".

I imagine some of the non-consumptive stakeholders, esp. scuba diving have a keen interest in making Salt Point a reserve for the same reasons Bigeyedave points out (protection and access). 

Brian

Thanks for the update.  I sent the following:

The area from Gerstle to Black Point provides some of the safest and most utilized fishing and diving along the Sonoma Coast. Salt Point State Park is maintained by taxes and park fees, which are largely paid by divers and fishermen.  The state park provides the largest public ocean access in that area.  To close that area to fishing would unfairly deny fishing access to thousands of tax payers and park users who have financially supported the park for years.  Sea Ranch has 5 public access points with 4 parking spaces each and provides very little safe diving or fishing.  A closure of "Black Point to Gualala" causes far less restriction to the fishing public and causes far less economic impact on the State Park System.  The State Park System lost millions of dollars in this year's budget process.  Please leave "Gerstle Cove to Black Point" open for fishing and diving.

Douglas Bell
Livermore, California

Just sent 5 emails.

Make sure an e-mail goes to this address.

[email protected]


Thanks,
Dave

If at all possible please attend this upcoming meeting.  It matters.

North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group

October 16-17
October 16: 10:00 a.m., October 17: 8:30 a.m.
Gualala Arts Center
46501 Gualala Road
Gualala, CA 95455

Nice centrally located convenient location.

5 sent.

Done and doner!

Done...I hope it's not too late.

Here's my letter:

I have just been made aware that a proposal is being considered to close one of two sections of California's northern coast to fishing, either Sea Ranch to Gualala or Gerstle Cove to Sea Ranch. I strongly urge you to leave Gerstle Cove to Sea Ranch open to diving and fishing. This area provides safe and accessible diving and fishing while Sea Ranch to Gualala is largely inaccessible.

To park at Salt Point State Park, there is a $6 vehicle fee which goes to park funding. A large number of people fish this region, and by closing this area to fishing, the park would lose much of its financial support.

On a personal note, I love this area of coastline and wish to see fish and abalone stocks preserved as much as the next person. However, law-abiding fishermen and divers are not threatening this coastline and closing it to us will not stop poachers from venturing in. If this area is made a preserve, it could potentially become a hotspot for poachers, as their will be less people to report them and fewer wardens patrolling the area to check catches.

Please leave the area from Gerstle Cove to Sea Ranch open to recreational fishing and diving.

Nice job boys.