Information You Need to Know
In 1999 California passed the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA). This state legislation is designed to “sustain, conserve and protect” that state's marine resources through a series of designations called Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), including no-fishing areas called Marine Reserves, which extend three miles from shore.
There are three types of MPAs that can be established under the MLPA:
- State Marine Reserves, which prohibit recreational fishing and all other forms of recreational and commercial “extraction”. The area is to be maintained as an undisturbed state as much as possible, so access like boating or diving may be prohibited as well.
- State Marine Parks, which places limits on recreational fishing and bans commercial fishing.
- State Marine Conservation Areas, in which only certain activities that compromise the integrity of the area might be limited.
The state began implementation, but the effort stalled due to the lack of financial resources. In 2004, the implementation resumed with an infusion of funds from the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation.
Implementation of the MLPA poses serious questions about the future of sportfishing in California and presents a serious challenge to sportfishing because:
- The MLPA and the various designations made under it is a complex process making it difficult for anglers and the public to understand;
- Statewide, anglers are not coordinated to oppose large unwarranted closures;
- Environmental groups supporting closures under the MLPA are well-funded and some have invested in a state/private partnership to fund the implementation of the MLPA;
- Environmental groups supporting closures have invested heavily in media campaigns; and
- Angler groups have not presented a message that is coordinated or clear.
Phase I – MLPA Implementation
The MLPA is being implemented in phases by the California Department of Fish and Game under the MLPA Initiative.The California Fish and Game Commission approved MPA designations for Phase I – which encompasses the central coast region from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County – in April 2007. These designations become official in September 2007. The result is the designation of 29 MPAs equaling approximately 204 square miles (or 18 percent) of state waters. Eighty five square miles (or 8 percent) were designated as no-take marine reserves, representing about 50 percent of the best fishing spots in the area. While 8 percent does not seem like a lot, this is only the first phase. The percentage of California marine waters closed to fishing will only increase as implementation progresses.
Phase II – MLPA Implementation
Implementation of the MLPA is currently in its second phase, which focuses on the north central portion of the coast. This area extends from Alder Creek in Mendocino County south to Pigeon Point in San Mateo County. The goal was to have a recommendation to the California Fish and Game Commission by May 2008. On April 24, 2008, the North Central Coast Blue Ribbon Task Force voted to recommend four different MPA alternatives to the Fish and Game Commission, including an “Integrated Preferred Alternative” created by the Task Force, and three alternatives created by the Regional Stakeholder Group. The Blue Ribbon Task Force will officially present these recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission in June 2008. The Commission will then hold a series of two or three public meetings to receive testimony on the four alternatives. A final vote by the Commission on which alternative to implement is expected in late summer or early fall 2008.
Additional Actions in California
Under a separate Act, California designated 175 square miles of state water within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary as no-take marine reserves completely closed to sportfishing. And the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently designated an additional 148 square miles of federal waters as a marine reserve that prohibits all take. That’s a total of 323 square miles of water off the coast of the Channel Islands closed to sportfishing.
In addition:
Goal and Purpose of the California Campaign
At $336 million, California earns more state and local tax revenues from sportfishing than any other state. At $2.7 billion, sportfishing retail sales are equivalent to the value of the state's grape harvest. This is not insignificant.
The goal of California's sportfishing advocates and anglers is to protect the marine environment while minimizing unwarranted closures California’s coastal waters to recreational fishing.
The purpose of pursuing this goal is to:
- Maintain and improve the conservation of California marine fisheries and associated marine resources so as to improve the overall health of the ocean;
- Assure that the process for future closures or designations under California's Marine Life Protection Act relies on biological and economic information in a balanced fashion; and
- Increase sportfishing opportunities in California from their current economic and participation levels.
California Saltwater Recreational Fishing Facts
- Generates $2.3 billion annual economic output
- Generates $1.3 billion in retail sales
- Generates $161 million in State and local income taxes
- Pay $737 million in California salaries, wages, and business profits
- Over 760,000 saltwater anglers
The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the sportfishing industry’s trade association, and its partners, is working to ensure that anglers' and boaters' voices are heard as marine and aquatic management plans are developed. Please donate to financially help ASA with this process.
Click here to take action on this important sportfishing access issue. Click here to view all of the Keep America Fishing action alerts.
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