MLPA Initiative, Department of Fish and Game Announce
Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group
Members chosen to represent diverse interests from
Point Conception to Pigeon Point, including Morro Bay and Monterey Bay
Sacramento, CA –The California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative and the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) today announced the appointment of 29 members and 10 alternates to the MLPA Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (see attached list). Under the guidance of a blue ribbon task force, this group is responsible for working with a science team, professional staff and DFG to help the state improve the design and management of the central coast portion of a statewide network of marine protected areas (MPAs).
“We are very pleased with the makeup of this group and the ability of its members to constructively engage in a collaborative planning process,” said Ryan Broddrick, director of the California Department of Fish and Game. “We recognize the significant time commitment these individuals are making over the next 10 to 12 months and appreciate their willingness to participate. We'd also like to thank those who nominated prospective members of the group.”
Initially the group will help develop regional goals and objectives, and evaluate existing MPAs within the central coast region (Point Conception to Pigeon Point). The stakeholder group will also help develop recommendations for alternative MPAs proposals. At points in the process the regional dialogue will focus on two subgroups for the north and south central coast areas where group members can bring their in-depth of knowledge about local resources and uses.
“This group will serve as a focus for discussions on designing alternative MPA proposals,” said MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Chair Phil Isenberg. “The regional stakeholder group members were chosen for their knowledge of marine issues and the MLPA process, which will be invaluable in developing a recommendation for the central coast,” he added.
Marine constituencies represented in the group include recreational angling and diving, commercial fishing, ports and harbors, conservation, business, and other government agencies with marine protected area responsibilities. Pending confirmation of their availability, several members and alternates will be added to the group.
Executive Director John Kirlin stated that a large number of talented people were nominated for the regional stakeholder group. “We selected a manageable-sized working group based upon the breadth and depth of representation for key interests as well as demonstrated experience in working with multi-stakeholder groups.”
The first MLPA Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group meeting will be held in June in the Monterey Bay area, when members will be introduced to one another and the process. Subsequent meetings of the full group will alternate between the Morro Bay and Monterey areas, while the sub-groups will meet separately in the Monterey and Morro Bay areas.
“I look forward to working with such a diverse group, where the individuals have the ability to discuss and balance varied interests and communicate those interests to a broad constituency”, said MLPA Central Coast Project Manager Michael DeLapa.
Discussions at group meetings will be carried out primarily by the stakeholder representatives with the assistance of professional facilitators. Meetings will be open to the general public and will be videotaped for later viewing on the Internet. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the regional meetings as observers; they also will have opportunities to provide comments on evolving marine protected areas proposals and other elements of the process.
Early next year the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force is expected to present to the Department of Fish and Game a recommendation for alternative MPA proposals in the central coast region. In turn, DFG will present its recommendation to the California Fish and Game Commission by March 2006. The commission is the final decision-making body.
The California Resources Agency and California Department of Fish and Game have partnered with the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation and others in an initiative to achieve the MLPA goals. This public-private partnership is guided by the advice of scientists, resource managers, experts, stakeholders and members of the public. The MLPA directs the state to design and manage a network of marine protected areas in order to, among other things, protect marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems, and marine natural heritage, as well as improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems.
The MLPA requires the DFG to prepare and present to the Fish and Game Commission a master plan that will guide the adoption and implementation of a Marine Life Protection Program within the department. The Fish and Game Commission is then required to adopt a master plan, based on the best readily available science, which includes a statewide network of marine protected areas. After the central coast, the commission will be presented with recommendations for alternative network components along the remaining sections of California coast between 2006 and 2011.
For more information about the MLPA Initiative, please visit the initiative website.
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California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
Members of the Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group
May 16, 2005
D'Anne Albers, Executive Director, Friends of the Sea Otter
Rick Algert, Harbor Director, City of Morro Bay
John Aliotti, Owner, Carmel Canyon Spot Prawns (alternate for David Crabbe)
Don Canestro, Reserve Director, Ken Norris Rancho Marino Reserve, UC Santa Barbara
Tom Capen, President, Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association
David Crabbe, Vice President, California Wetfish Producers Association
Dave Edlund, Chair of Skindiving, Central California Council of Diving Clubs
Howard Egan, Sanctuary Affairs Coordinator, Recreational Fishing Alliance
Jay Elder, Harbormaster, Port San Luis (alternate for Rick Algert)
Eric Endersby, Chief Harbor Patrol Officer, City of Morro Bay
Ellen Faurot-Daniels, Oil Spill Supervisor, California Coastal Commission
Ray Fields, President, The Abalone Farm
Kaitilin Gaffney, Central Coast Program Manager, The Ocean Conservancy
Tom Hafer, President, South-Central Nearshore Trap Organization
Bob Hather, Member, Board of Directors, Central Coast Fisheries Conservation Coalition
Gordon Hensley, Executive Director, San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper
Carol Jones, Co-owner, Tom’s Sportfishing (alternate for Tom Mattusch)
Michelle Knight, Vice President and Owner, Adventures by the Sea
Kris Lindstrom, President, K. P. Lindstrom, Inc.
Ron Massengill, recreational fisherman and conservationist
Tom Mattusch, Owner, Hulicat Sportfishing
Huff McGonigal, Environmental Policy Specialist, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (alternate for Holly Price)
Josh Mendenhall, Moss Landing Manager, Monterey Bay Kayaks (alternate for Michelle Knight)
Marla Morrissey, Conservation Chair, Marine Interest Group of San Luis Obispo County
Darby Neil, Owner, Virg's Landing Sportfishing
Holly Price, Resource Protection Coordinator, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Milos Radakovich, coastal naturalist and educator
Mike Ricketts, President, Monterey Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Robin V. Robinson, artistic community
Jesus Ruiz, California State Coordinator, National YMCA SCUBA Program
Steve Scheiblauer, Harbormaster, City of Monterey
Walter Schobel, Flight Chief, Airspace and Offshore Management Flight, Vandenberg Air Force Base
Art Seavey, Partner, Monterey Abalone Company
Marc Shargel, Sea life photographer, Lumigenic Media (alternate for John Wolfe)
Steve Shimek, Executive Director, The Otter Project (alternate for D’Anne Albers)
Ben Sleeter, MLPA Advisor, Board of Directors, Coastside Fishing Club (alternate for Howard Egan)
Mike Stiller, President, Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Association (alternate for Mike Ricketts)
Jim Webb, President, Cambria Fishing Club (alternate for Bob Hather)
John Wolfe, Advanced Assessment Team Volunteer Diver, Reef Environmental Education Foundation
For questions about this release, please contact Melissa Miller-Henson (MLPA Task Force) at 916.654.2506 or Mike Wintemute (DFG) at 916.651.6443