LA Times Article today

[Falcon]

I tried valiently to find some more information on this but looking at the DFG website I could find nothing.   Anyone have any details?


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fishing6-2009aug06,0,5559027.story

California to further restrict coastal fishing
The move by Fish and Game for the North-Central coast is meant to help marine ecosystems and will take effect Jan. 1. Reaction splits along predictable lines.
By Amy Littlefield
August 6, 2009
The state Fish and Game Commission voted Wednesday to ban or restrict fishing in about 20% of state waters along the North-Central coast to rejuvenate marine ecosystems.

Conservationists hailed the measure as a chance to lead the nation in creating a network of underwater state parks, while fishermen said it would threaten their businesses in a time of economic hardship.


The plan had been in the works for 10 years after the passage of the state Marine Life Protection Act, which mandated the creation of a network of restricted fishing areas.

Protected areas have already been established along the Central Coast, the first of five regions to be examined. A plan is in the works for Southern California. The protections apply only to state waters within three nautical miles of the coast.

Fishermen and conservationists had proposed alternative versions of the plan, but the one put forth by the Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force triumphed on a 3-2 vote.


Commissioner Daniel W. Richards and President Jim Kellogg opposed the measure, saying the commission should first wait to judge the success of marine protected areas along the Central Coast. They also expressed doubt over whether the state could afford enforcement costs.

Supporters dismissed that concern. "Budgets come and budgets go, recessions come and recessions go," said Commissioner Michael Sutton. "What's going on here is more important than that."

Commissioner Richard B. Rogers called the measure "the single most important thing that I have ever done."

The tie-breaking vote was cast by Don Benninghoven, who was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday after the resignation of the commission's president, Cindy Gustafson, last Friday.

Schwarzenegger voiced his approval of the decision.

Lisa Page, a spokeswoman, said, "It represents another milestone in California's leadership on oceans management and is the example of the kinds of outcomes that can be achieved by a collaborative process."

The plan takes effect Jan. 1.

[Toad Patrol]

Yeah, I read this article too, somethings fishy with this whole MLPA no take reserves program. Maybe getting the commercials off the water and buying up the permits is some carpetbagger plan hatched in Sacremento by the Governator and his sycophants. What big scheme will make some A-hole rich and drive the little guys off the water? Us kayak fishers are merely by-catch, tossed back overboard, dead.
I was recently told that the Hubbs Research Institute just recieved a permit to begin growing White Seabass and Striped Bass commercially for profit here in SoCal, in offshore pens like the tuna pens in ENsanada.  They have been using the reserch funds to develope the skill to grow for profit, and somehow the MLPA has something to do with this. Either by driving small commercials off the water, or some other devious methods. At the last meeting at Carlsbad, I mentioned to Jas and MJ that I wouldn't be surprised if there was some other hidden agenda we couldn't see hiding around the corner. We wouldn't realize it yet, untill the closures were in place.  More will be revealed...
If you have access to this weeks edition to the Surfside News or Malibu Times, both have feature articles regarding the MLPA impact on Malibu and numerous quotes from locals who are'nt quite up to speed on the BS factor. Both newspapers published long letters I sent in revealing some sorry truths about the MLPA. Check it out if you can, also available online as well, at Malibu Surfside News or Malibu Times. ( would someone please explain how to imbed a link in the post?)
Falcon, let's fish sometime, Darling. I miss the blinding sunlight reflected off your dome.
-Scott

[Falcon]

http://www.malibutimes.com/articles/2009/08/05/editorial/letters/letter1.txt

Here is the link to your letter to the times.

And yes, my dome will be out on the water sometime, serving as a beacon to spots that dont seem to hold fish.  I got a big stink on me that I cant seem to get off, its been so long since I caught a flatty I cant even remember...

Sunday maybe?

[Toad Patrol]

The National Spearfish Championships were held at Leo today so I'd let that place, and surrounding territory settle down for a while. Maybe Westward rockfish and boiler rocks? My son says the swell might pick up tomarrow so a Westward launch may be tricky.  Some party boats working the Barracuda  in SM bay (paddle to the boats), but down by the SM pier. Never Fished around there. Acess?
How bout Troutdale?
Call me -310 4578301

[Spike]

And that stink is the MLPA.
First off, I'd like to thank PAL and Mugu for their ongoing representation of kayak anglers on this cause.  Their efforts help us all and the fishery, whatever the outcome.

MLPA is California politics at its absolute worst.  We are being screwed and so is the fishery.  Our diligence, our outcry, is the only thing that will save our fisheries in the Golden State.  We are being boondogled by the people who drive this legislative beast that uses the law as a tool against fishing.

There are so many points to argue.  For me, the bottom line is the sustainability of the fishery while presrving sportfishing as a traditional American pastime and a wholesome family activity.

Regarding the Northern/Central coast decision...
"The Commission's decision follows a landmark study published July 31 in Science magazine, in which 21 experts concluded the California Current ecosystem has the lowest fishery exploitation rate IN THE WORLD"...from the Pt. Reyes Light

What are we trying to "protect"?

Paul and Mugu, please keep us advised what to do (who to contact) next.  It aint over yet.

[BigDog]

Hey Guys, we just went through this ordeal and now it is headed your way. All I can say is bend over because that is what your going to get. The anti-fishing organizations are not only funding this fiasco, they are running it. This so called "blue ribbon" board holds the public input meetings as required by law but it does not matter. They had their minds made up to close down the ocean and nothing we said was going to change their minds. Even at the last time around the track, we thought we might have a chance because one of the antis was asked to leave the board due to conflict of interest. So, our wonderful governor appointed a replacement that had already been at the meetings ranting about how we need to close down the coast to all fishing.

It is an absolute sham. There is not one piece of scientific evidence being used to justify these closures. The funding is coming from the Packard Foundation, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Ocean Conservancy, the Scripps Institute and the Sierra Club just to name a few of the heavy hitters. And to make it worse, one of the board members is on the Monterey Bay Aquarium payroll.

All I can suggest is to be there in mass from the very first meeting to the last. Don't let up just because you have one good showing of people. Get up and state your case as many times as possible. Someone up here suggested after the fact that maybe we should have hired a public relations organization to help us out.

There were some good after the fact comments made here: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,19697.0.html

Good luck!

[Sea Weed]

Can you smell or say tea party for this issue. wish it could happen.