(MLPA) BRTF meetings April 15/16

[PAL]

The agenda high points are posted below, along with initial comments on possible speaking approaches:

Meeting Objectives

• Receive presentation regarding pending military closures and potentially provide guidance to the MLPA South Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (SCRSG) regarding how such areas should be considered when developing marine protected area (MPA) proposals

NOTE - These areas are gone anyway. They MUST be counted as reserves that contribute toward meeting the MLPA's conservation goals. Otherwise we may be pushed to make up for these areas elsewhere, meaning even more closures.

• Receive Draft MPA arrays developed by work groups of the SCRSG and draft MPA proposals developed external to the work group process

NOTE - Kayak anglers may want to express support of proposals that protect access to La Jolla, Dana Pt, Malibu, Carp Reef, Naples, Two Harbors, and elsewhere. These include External A (FIN), External B (UASC), and Opal A. You might also want to express opposition to overly preservationist plans that wrongfully deny most public access. Maps are here http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/scrsg-dprops.asp

• Receive SAT, California Department of Fish and Game, California Department of Parks and Recreation, and Goal 3 analyses of draft MPA arrays and proposals

NOTE - SAT analysis is undercounting hard bottom across the study region. This could result in MPAs drastically larger than they need to be in order to meet conservation goals. The science must be improved if we are to avoid making costly, near-permanent mistakes based on bad data.

ALSO - La Jolla seal colony is a net negative to ecosystem diversity, arguing against placing an MPA here. Harbor seals are not endangered. Current rookery population is unaturally high due to human intervention.

MORE - La Jolla is a heritage area for free divers and kayak anglers, with a long history of use going back to pre-European times, and has one of the few drive-on beach launch sites, etc. Public access must be respected. A unique resource of national importance, loss of La Jolla would cripple kayak fishing. This is supported by the Ecotrust Impact Survey.

• Receive 2008-2011 budget update

NOTE - As far back as the CenCal study region, the Draft Master Plan predicted annual costs as high as $40 million / year. There is little to no dedicated funding. The law requires adequate monitoring and enforcement.

ALSO - urge BRTF members to carefully consider economic impacts and their effect on the state's crippled economy. MPAs should be placed far from ports to minimize impacts. The Ecotrust data should be used to site MPAs that have minimal economic impact.

[Holy Mackerel]

Bump!

[PAL]

Big thanks to 18 year old OC yak fisher Brendan, who attended the meeting from beginning to end, and donated his speaking time to PSO lobbyist George Osborn. George testified that the RSG can't be expected to continue without adequate science, a point that earned the only applause of the day.

There were 26 free divers. They represented themselves extremely well. There are more of us than them. It would have been nice to see some friendly faces speaking up for our fisheries.

There's another chance tomorrow - public comment is scheduled for first thing in the morning, at 8:30. The speaking points are listed above. Good luck!

[kurt]

I went to the meeting this morning. Some kook scuba diver explained how fisherman killed all the sea otters south of Point Concepcion and evidently we're somehow responsible for the kelp shrinking off of Laguna.
Seemed like a lot of fisherman/spearfisherman there for the public comment, but we could always use more. Especially more kayak fisherman. Hopefully there will be more meetings with public input. Keep us informed, Chris.

[PAL]

Good on you Kurt! Sorry I missed you - after attending all day yesterday, I caught this one on the internet. I hope you said hello to Joe Nguyuen and the free divers. The boos came through loud and clear when that mis-informed diver spoke.

There will be many more meetings. The next one is an RSG session set for April 28-29 in Oxnard at the Residence Inn by Mariott.

[Holy Mackerel]

Right on Kurt, thanks for attending, and the update. We need to match the Spear Diver effort! Maybe I need to take a day off for next public comment! Hopefully more kayak fisherman (I see you guys on the water, during week, and every weekend ) will rally and make it up the meeting. Speardivers are travelling from SD, carpool, have their taking points together, very organized. I know we can do the same!

chris