Nominations are open for south coast regional stakeholder group

The Department of Fish and Game is now accepting nominations for the regional stakeholder group that will work to design marine protected areas for California's south coast.

What do stakeholders do, you ask? Here is how it worked on the North Central Coast.

Fish and Game Commission proceeds with compromise plan

On June 11, 2008, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force’s proposed MPA plan as its “preferred alternative” for environmental review purposes. The Commission directed further analysis of the compromise plan as well as the three original MPA proposals developed by stakeholders.

In the coming months, members of the public will have the opportunity to provide comments to the Commission on protections for the North Central Coast. You can send one now on CalOceans.org. Final adoption of the North Central Coast MPAs is expected to occur in late 2008 or early 2009.

World Ocean Day shows California's leadership - UPDATED

Sunday, June 8 was World Ocean Day. Here are a few recent editorials by some of California's ocean leaders highlighting the challenges our oceans face, and the progress we are making:

Honoring an unsung hero -- our ocean
State Senator Joe Simitian
Santa Cruz Sentinel

For ocean to thrive, balance is in order
Assemblymember Fred Keeley (ret.)
Sacramento Bee

We need to live life with ocean in mind
By Wallace J. Nichols
San Jose Mercury News

ANOTHER VIEW: More to be done for oceans
By By Pam Slater-Price - County supervisor
North County Times

Press Kit: Information on California’s marine protected areas

Click here to download our current press kit (PDF) with contacts list, fact sheets and other background information on California’s marine protected areas.

The press kit includes:

• a brief summary of recent progress on California’s north central coast marine protected area (MPA) network
• a north central coast contact list for press inquiries
• a glossary of terms
• frequently asked questions on marine protected areas
• a summary of California’s Marine Life Protection Act success
• initial monitoring results from the Channel Islands marine protected areas
• marine reserves at a glance
• NRDC Factsheet: America's underwater parks
  

Commission will receive MPA proposals on June 11

The Fish and Game Commission will receive the proposed alternatives to protect the North Central Coast (including the compromise plan created by the Blue Ribbon Task Force) on June 11.

Who: MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force and the California Fish and Game Commission
What: Joint meeting to formally transmit the north central coast marine protected area recommendations
When: Wednesday, June 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Sacramento, California (specific location to be determined and posted with agenda next week)

"A Sheltered Sea" film now online

The Baum Foundation has just made their stellar film about the MLPA process available for free online.

"A Sheltered Sea: The Journey of the California Marine Life Protection Act" is a 23-minute documentary that tells the story of this landmark law that is now being implemented along the California coast. The film is narrated by the stakeholders, scientists, and public servants who are making it happen.

Take a few minutes and watch "A Sheltered Sea" online. (For the full film, click on "high speed" or "low speed" depending on your internet connection.)