Key background article about marine reserves successes in New Zealand - National Geographic
Marine Protected Areas adopted
Bodega Bay, Friday April 13, 2007 --------- There were commercial fishermen, spear fishermen, kayakers, gadflies, abalone farmers, sports fishermen and the Assemblyman author of the law crowded into the spacious halls of the Bodega Marine Lab Friday morning. Cars were parked for over a half-mile along the entry road. Over 200 were at the meeting – about 75 had one minute at the microphone. Two hours later the two-year process ended. The State Department of Fish and Game Commission approved Marine Life Protection Areas (MLPA) for the Central Coast.
Some speakers hailed the fundamental change the MLPA restrictions bring to environmental management. Some thought the restrictions were too much. Others wanted an adjustment favored by the coast users they represented. One castigated the commission for an illegal and undemocratic route to the proposals at hand.
Many in the audience were there to get a preview of the process coming to the North Coast.
Then Assemblyman Fred Keeley – with others – authored the law when the State Legislature passed the bill in 1998. The Marine Life Management Act created a system to implement Marine Life Protection Areas. Recognizing California’s fisheries and marine environment could easily be loved to death, legislators extended the range of their protections. No longer would the Legislature regulate by political decision but utilized a science-based structure of protections to the entire ecosystem – to all the critters. They also changed the approach to regulation from exploitation of the resource until destruction to sustainability. Each part of the entire coast would manage its species and habitats be conserved to its productive and sustainable life. They also recognized the ocean resources were not simply extractive – a kayaker’s experience of the coast was as valuable as the fisherman. Marine life need not be consumed to provide important benefits to people, including aesthetic and recreational enjoyment as well as scientific study and education.
This approach was revolutionary. No longer would politicians – beholden to supporters and lobbyists – make decisions about fish harvests. The Department of Fish and Game would become a science-wielding tool for restoring depressed fisheries and maintaining the sustainability of the coast. The commission would have final approval of the areas and would could or couldn’t happen within.
A structure to bring the law to reality formed with Fish and Game staff, a Blue Ribbon Task Force, Statewide Interests Group (Stakeholders) and Science Advisory Team. The statewide structure repeated in each of the areas of the coast.
The process to determine the Protected Areas floundered twice since Governor Grey Davis signed the MLMA into law. The MLMA specifically mandates decisions would be open and fair to people with an interest or be affected by the Protection Areas.
Two years ago, Fish and Game started the process again, this time with private donations as well as state funding. Previous attempts were killed by budget cuts and fears of fishermen.
After almost 60 meetings, Fish and Game staff brought the Commission specific proposals and alternatives for the Central Coast from Pigeon Point south to Point Conception. Today the Commission voted on the preferred alternative initially proposed and discussed at their August 2006 meeting.
The Commission voted unanimously in favor of its preferred alternative: 29 MPAs representing approximately 204 square miles (or approximately 18 percent) of state waters with 85 square miles designated as no-take state marine reserves along the Central Coast, which ranges from Pigeon Point in San Mateo County south to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County. The adopted network includes the following specific decisions on options in the regulatory notice:
Año Nuevo SMCA: Allowing commercial kelp harvest by hand only for the existing leaseholder in this area until the lease expires. This will be a no fish zone.
Soquel Canyon and Portuguese Ledge SMCAs: Allowing harvest of pelagic finfish only. Spot prawn trapping currently allowed will be prohibited.
Edward Ricketts SMCA: Allowing recreational hook and line fishing (at all times in the entire MPA) and commercial kelp harvest with the limits recommended by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG).
White Rock (Cambria) SMCA: Allowing commercial kelp harvest by hand for the existing leaseholder in the area until the lease expires.
Protection designations established by the plan range from Conservation areas that allow some extractive activity to no-catch zones. Another facet of the MLMA develops fishery management plans (FMP). FMPs provide a focus and basis for discussions among scientists, fishermen, conservationists, processors, and other people about the many issues that affect the sustainability of a fishery.
Bill James, commercial fisherman from Port San Luis, told the commissioners Friday the percentage of protected area to the whole coast was deceiving, “18 percent of the coast is protected but that is 50 percent of the reefs. The fishermen have no place to fish.”
An alternate proposal developed by commercial fishermen would protect smaller areas. Several fishermen advocated its adoption in public testimony Friday.
Commissioners adapted the plan and the options proposed by Fish and Game staff little changed from their August meeting.
Before the meeting, Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA) wondered aloud about all the excitement that brought such a large crowd to the Commission meeting. “It’s not going to end fishing as we know it in our lifetimes, and it’s not going to protect the ocean. Just protecting part of the ocean won’t work. We can’t just restrict fishermen. We need to address pollution and acidification of the oceans.”
Commissioners before the vote was taken thanked the audience for participating in the long process. Jim Kellog, commissioner, said, “Even if your position wasn’t adopted, that doesn’t mean you lost. I recognize that fishermen can only fish [with the adoption of this plan] where there are no fish. I regret generations [of fishermen] will lose their livelihood.”
“With our action today, California has embarked upon something historic and extraordinary,” said Richard Rogers, president of the Commission. “With this vote, we have taken the first step to return our ocean waters to the place they used to be; an ocean full of sustainable abundance.”
The process of developing public participation in the designation of MPA’s for the North Coast – Pigeon Point to Manchester in Mendocino County – has already begun.
Earlier story on MLPA meeting in Bodega Bay - click here
