Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Oceans & Beaches Category
Click here to view all posts

Dan Bacher: California Game Wardens Association asks for delay in corrupt MLPA process

Posted by: Maven on July 17, 2009 at 8:10 am

From Dan Bacher:

The California Game Wardens Association has joined North Coast environmentalists, seaweed harvesters, recreational fishermen, commercial fishermen, Native American activists and elected officials in requesting a delay or suspension of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s corrupt fast-track Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Process.

“We understand the need for the Commission to move forward with mandates but must request that you delay or suspend any and all mandates that place additional responsibilities on wardens until such time that furlough and staffing issues are addressed,” wrote Todd Tognazzini, President of the California Game Wardens Association in a letter to Cindy Gustafson, president of the California Fish and Game Commission. “A prime example of this is the ongoing work by the Commission related to the Marine Life Protection Act and the designation of protected areas along our coastline. Insofar as legally possible, please delay any further designations of such areas.”

With the furloughs in place, he noted that they have field level staffing that provides us about 175 field level wardens, the lowest ratio of wardens to the population of any state in the nation.

“We simply cannot effectively enforce additional mandates without some relief from furlough issues that may continue through June, 2010,” he emphasized.

The process has been expanded from a $250,000 per year process to a government boondoggle costing $35 million per year. Opponents of the process charge the Schwarzengger administration, the worst ever for fish and the environment in California history, and its collaborators with conflict of interest, mission creep and the corruption of the democratic process in the implementation of the MLPA.

The Point Arena Basin, where a no-take “marine reserve” is proposed by the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force, is now in process to be leased for offshore oil and gas development by the federal Minerals Management Service, with public comment open until September. John Lewallen, author, environmental leader and sustainable seaweed harvester, points out that Catherine Reyes-Boyd, CEO of the Western States Petroleum Association, was on the five-member Blue Ribbon Panel of “fisheries experts” that chose the new no-take zones in the Point Arena area.

“Is this because they want to clear independent fishermen and seaweed harvesters out so they can make Point Arena an oil drilling boom town?” Lewallen asks? “Do they think this little town is a soft target?”

Many opponents consider the MLPA process to be an egregious case of corporate greenwashing where fishermen and seaweed harvesters will be kicked off the water to pave the way for offshore oil drilling, wave energy projects and corporate aquaculture.

Three public open houses are scheduled in Northern California to provide information about California’s Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) planning process. These informal events will introduce members of the public to the planning process to reexamine and redesign marine protected areas (MPAs), provide a forum to ask questions and offer input, and solicit public involvement in the process. This is a great opportunity to challenge Schwarzenegger’s fast track process! For more information, go to: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/07/16/18608343.php.

Here is the letter from the association:

The California Game Wardens Association issued the following statement via letter:

July 9, 2009

Ms. Cindy Gustafson, President
California Fish and Game Commission
1416 Ninth Street
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090

Dear Ms. Gustafson:

Thanks to you and the Commission for recognizing the ongoing plight of Wardens in California. We greatly appreciate the tremendous support from those who understand and value California’s wildlife and its susceptibility. Poaching and environmental law violations are an everyday occurrence as we continue to provide the ”thin green line” of protection in spite of the ongoing statewide budget crisis and a requirement for taking three furlough days each month. With only a little over 200 field game wardens, the furloughs create a situation where we lose the time equivalent to 28 wardens. We are well aware that a number of state law enforcement agencies have not been furloughed. We have met with cabinet level personnel, but no one can explain how some are exempt and some are not. It is clear so far, that the protection of wildlife resources and ensuring public safety do not appear important enough to remove furloughs from wardens.

We understand the need for the Commission to move forward with mandates but must request that you delay or suspend any and all mandates that place additional responsibilities on wardens until such time that furlough and staffing issues are addressed. A prime example of this is the ongoing work by the Commission related to the Marine Life Protection Act and the designation of protected areas along our coastline. Insofar as legally possible, please delay any further designations of such areas. With the furloughs in place, we now have field level staffing that provides us about 175 field level wardens. We simply cannot effectively enforce additional mandates without some relief from furlough issues that may continue through June, 2010.

We appreciate and support the difficult and conscientious work the Commission must consider. We look forward to your help.

s~

Todd Tognazzini, President
P.O. Box 2785
Paso Robles, CA 93447-2785

July 17, 2009 · Filed Under Oceans & Beaches

Comments

Leave a Reply