In the latest phase of the controversial plan by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his staff to impose more “no fishing” zones on the California Coast, the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative and Department of Fish & Game on May 15 announced the appointment of the MLPA North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group.

Recreational anglers, including those appointed to the advisory panel, are hoping that the process will be more inclusive of angler’s input and take into consideration existing de facto marine protected areas, imposed over the last decade by the federal Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC).

The group held its first meeting in San Rafael on May 22 and 23. Subsequent meetings of the group will be held every six to eight weeks, or as necessary, throughout the study region.

Under the guidance of a blue ribbon task force, this group is responsible for working with a science advisory team and MLPA staff to help California "improve the design and management of the north central coast portion of a statewide network of marine protected areas (MPA)," a DFG press release stated.

The group has a number of recreational fishing representatives, including Bill Bernard, member of the Abalone Advisory Group; Ken Jones, President of the United Pier and Shore Anglers of California; Tom Mattusch, Captain of the Huli Cat, (alternate for Jay Yokomizo), Paul Pierce, member of the Coastside Fishing Club (alternate for Ben Sleeter); Ben Sleeter, Political Advocate/Scientist from the Coastside Fishing Club, and Jay Yokomizo, Captain of the New Huck Finn of Emeryville Sportfishing.

The stakeholder group consists of 23 primary members and 13 alternate members. The marine interests they represent include recreational angling and diving, commercial fishing, ports and harbors, conservation, business, and government agencies with MPA responsibilities, among others. Several additional alternates will be added to the group

“We are pleased with the makeup of this group and believe its members can constructively engage in a collaborative planning process,” said DFG Director Ryan Broddrick. “It is a significant time commitment these individuals are making over the next 12 to 14 months and we appreciate their willingness to participate.”

"The regional stakeholder group represents a broad range of interests in the area, and all members have knowledge of marine issues in the study region and of the MLPA," echoed MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Chair Susan Golding.

Ben Sleeter, Coastside’s representative on the group, commented on the first meeting. “It was an informational meeting, with the ground rules and process explained and people introduced to one another,” he said.

“However, one big change in this process is that the facilitator, a DFG staffer, is responsible for making the stakeholders agree on a package rather than several stakeholder packages like what happened in the Central Coast Stakeholders Process. It sounds like the group will be striving to do a really good thing by agreeing on one package.”

The Central Coast Stakeholders Group produced three alternative packages, while the California Fisheries Coalition, under direction from prominent scientists, developed a “Fisherman’s Package.” Recreational anglers felt that their concerns were not properly heeded when the California Fish and Game Commission last August voted for a restrictive package that will outlaw fishing in many traditional areas that anglers have fished along the coast, including Ano Nuevo, Soquel Hole, Point Sur and Point Buchon.

The Commission this April adopted regulations to create a new network of marine protected areas (MPAs) for the Central Coast. The Commission voted unanimously in favor of its preferred alternative: 29 MPAs representing approximately 204 square miles (or approximately 18 percent) of state waters with 85 square miles designated as no-take state marine reserves along the Central Coast.

Sleeter was an alternate on the Central Coast stakeholders group, but he noted that only a few members of the previous group are on this panel.

“Coastside is in a coalition with the American Sportfishing Association, United Anglers of Southern California and Nor Cal Kayak anglers in developing MPA recommendations,” said Sleeter. “There will also be a lot of work being outside of the panel - Bob Osborn of UASC with be charged with attending every meeting related to the MPLA, while ASA has hired a lobbyist in Sacramento.”

According to ASA’s Policy Watch Newsletter, the ASA, along with a number of California angling organizations, “is working to ensure that the next phase of closures under the MLPA, which will determine designations along the North Central coast, will give more consideration to recreational anglers and businesses.”

In reference to the Central Coast process, “some people – the environmental groups pushing for the most restrictive packages – got exactly what they wanted,” said Sleeter. “If we had been able to read the tea leaves, we would have had a better idea of what the state wanted and would have adjusted our strategy in light of what the state of California had in mind. However, we have the luxury of looking back at the MLPA process now and we have to find some other way to approach it.”

Jim Martin, a trustee of the California Fisheries Coalition and West Coast Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, was pleased that many of the nominees the CFC supported, including two shore fishing representatives, were appointed to the panel. However, he noted that the group was even more top-heavy with federal and state agency people than the previous group.

“My big question is whether the Blue Ribbon Task Force will take the concerns of recreational anglers seriously and whether the environmental groups will push for more restrictions than those that the fishing community can accept,” said Martin. “As fishermen, we are not opposed to no fishing zones in principle, but we feel that they must be based on science with goals that are quantifiable and a timetable to periodically evaluate whether they are working or not.”

He also noted that the coalition has been successful in getting the state to clarify that the science advisory team is subject to the Bagley-Keene Act. This law requires that DFG meetings include public notice, open meetings and making written materials available to the public. “We pried open the transparency on this process for future meetings of the advisory panel,” Martin said.

Group members will help complete a regional profile, including an evaluation of existing MPAs within the MLPA North Central Coast Study Region (bounded by Alder Creek in Mendocino County, just north of Point Arena, and Pigeon Point in San Mateo County). The stakeholder group will also develop recommendations for alternative MPA packages. A team composed of DFG staff, MLPA Initiative staff and contractors will work closely with the stakeholder group throughout the process.