Dear Friend of Ocean Life,

It worked! Heeding the public's demand for increased marine protection, the Schwarzenegger Administration has recommited the state of California to implementing the Marine Life Protection Act and re-started the process that will create new marine reserves along our coast. Thanks and congratulations to everyone who participated in our successful letter-writing campaign, or signed our petitions. You helped make this happen!

A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME
In August, the Governor's office announced the launch of a new "MLPA Initiative," made possible through a public-private partnership, with the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation providing some critical funding. The Governor's Administration established a Blue Ribbon Task Force to help guide implementation of the MLPA, starting with a pilot region - right here on the Central Coast. The Marine Life Protection Act mandates the creation of a network of marine reserves, along with sport fishing-areas and other conservation areas. Public input will be critical to the success of the MLPA Initiative. We've put links to all the details on our website at http://www.CaliforniaMarineReserves.org/how.html#mlpa
We'll be sure to keep you informed and let you know how you can be involved.

SANCTUARY RESERVES UPDATE
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary's process to determine what place marine reserves may have in federal waters is continuing. Progress is being made, but there are also some obstacles. For current details, see our website:
http://www.californiamarinereserves.org/how.html#mbnms

HELP NEEDED
We'd like to expand our outreach efforts among central coast residents and visitors. Please refer friends to the COOL endorsement and sign-on at:
http://www.CaliforniaMarineReserves.org/signup.html
We're also expanding the petition drive, and we'd appreciate your help. If you know of a business or organization that might be willing to sponsor the COOL Marine Reserve petition, please send a reply to this email.

COOL is at risk of becoming a victim of our own success. Our petition drive has been so successful that we need help with data entry, and especially with placing and picking up petitions. Could you or someone you know help with either aspect of the project? You'd be making a very substantial contribution to marine conservation by doing so. Please reply to this email if you can help.

Thanks for taking some of your valuable time to protect central coast marine life.

Very Gratefully,

Everyone at COOL

"The mission of the Coalition of Organizations for Ocean Life is to foster the creation of a network of marine reserves that will help restore, enhance and protect the diversity and abundance of California's marine life and underwater habitats, and to educate the public on the value of marine reserves and healthy oceans."

A partial list of our members and supporting businesses is available here.