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Partnership for Sustainable Oceans asks Governor to suspend MLPA designation process citing lack of funding and scientific data

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 23, 2009 at 12:18 pm

From the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans, this press release:

The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans, the organization that represents recreational fishing and boating interests, has asked Governor Schwarzenegger to suspend the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) planning and implementation process citing a lack of financial and scientific resources to support the designation of marine protected areas (MPAs).

“To move forward with the MLPA planning and implementation without the necessary resources to ensure a truly successful implementation and monitoring process places an unfair economic burden on the recreational fishing and boating industries and the local communities that depend on fishing and boating, and will also result in additional economic burdens for the state,” said Patty Doerr, Ocean Resource Policy director for the American Sportfishing Association, a PSO member. “If the science is not available to support an objective process, then the funds must be allocated. If the funds are not available; then the process should be suspended until the state can carry through with its promise for a fair, truly science-based designation and implementation process.”

The PSO has additional concerns given the state’s dire fiscal circumstance that there is not enough money to both plan and implement the MLPA in a manner consistent with both the law and the promises made to the recreational fishing and boating communities.

California’s State Legislative Joint Budget Committee recently voted to pull all general fund support – $4.8 million – for the MLPA. “The Committee’s desire to ‘back-fill’ those funds with bond funds dedicated to the Ocean Protection Council faces hurdles in the coming months,” Doerr further said.

The $4.8 million budgeted for FY 2009-2010 is only for the planning portion of the MLPA. “The MLPA’s real cost will be borne by California’s taxpayers after its implementation. The price tag to adequately monitor and enforce the MPAs will range from $35 million to $60 million annually in perpetuity. A poor process and decisions based on inadequate science data will lead to the establishment of ill conceived closures. Such closures will also have an adverse economic impact on the fishing and boating industries and the local economies that support these industries. In California, saltwater fishing alone contributes more than $2.2 billion to the state economy, including $160 million in state and local taxes and nearly 20,000 jobs,” said Ken Franke, president of the Sportfishing Association of California, also a PSO member.

The PSO’s goal is to protect California’s ocean environment while minimizing unnecessary closures to recreational fishing and boating. For more information about the MLPA and the PSO and to sign up for action alerts, go to www.keepamericafishing.org/california.

The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO) includes the American Sportfishing Association, Berkley Conservation Institute, Coastside Fishing Club, Contributing Members of the Avalon Tuna Club, International Game Fish Association, Kayak Fishing Association of California, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Nor-Cal Kayak Anglers, Shimano Sport Fisheries Initiative, Southern California Marine Association, the Sportfishing Association of California, United Anglers of Southern California and the Watermen’s Alliance.

June 23, 2009 · Filed Under Other Oceans & Beaches Stories

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