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Dan Bacher commentary: The whalegate scandal: State Lands Commission finds MLPA habitat data acquired illegally

Posted by: Maven on December 22, 2009 at 7:55 am

From Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org, this commentary:

“In the latest episode in the long, sordid saga of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s widely-contested Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process, the California State Lands Commission (SLC) at its meeting in San Diego on December 17 voted not to revoke the permit for Fugro Pelagos research vessel activity on the condition that the company abide by the terms of the permit in the future. Commission staff found that Fugro Pelagos violated the terms of its permit when it struck and killed a blue whale in October, 2009 off Fort Bragg when its contract vessel was mapping the sea floor for the MLPA Initiative.

The finding that the MLPA habitat data was acquired illegally comes at a time when a broad coalition of North Coast environmentalists, fishermen, Native Americans and seaweed harvesters is criticizing the MLPA process for being rife with conflicts of interests, mission creep, environmental injustice and corruption of the democratic process.

Staff found that the company:
-Did not notify the State Lands Commission prior to its survey activity
-Did not have marine wildlife observers on board. … “

Read more of Dan Bacher’s commentary by clicking here.

December 22, 2009 · Filed Under Oceans & Beaches

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