CalOceans News

Legislative panel reviews south coast ocean protection plan

The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture met today in Sacramento to review the ocean protection plan approved in December for California’s south coast as part of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) implementation process.  The Joint Committee heard presentations from MLPA Initiative and Department of Fish and Game staff as well as public testimony.

Agency staff, elected officials and stakeholders testified about the inclusiveness of MLPA planning efforts.  The Department received 18,000 emails during the south coast process, which included more than 50 public meetings with 150 hours of public comments.

Senator Pavley spoke about the strong science behind the Marine Life Protection Act, “I am impressed by the science available to back up the MLPA…Looking at the monitoring results from the Channel Islands, and based on scientific studies from around the world, we know that marine protected areas work.”

Senator Kehoe spoke about the proven benefits of marine protected areas as well, “Marine protected areas are essential to protecting species and habitats in our ocean wilderness, and restoring a thriving marine ecosystem that will benefit our oceans and fishermen.”

Lieutenant Governor Newsom sent a letter to the Joint Committee that offered support for the south coast plan, which he called a “balanced marine protected area network that protects the region’s most iconic ocean areas while leaving nearly 90 percent of state waters open for fishing.”

Newsom’s letter cited the economic importance of ocean protection for the state, since “Southern California’s coastal economy employs more than seven million people and contributes nearly $900 billion to the overall state economy,” and urged the Joint Committee’s “continued support for the Marine Life Protection Act.”

Assemblymember Chesbro, who chairs the Joint Committee, explained that the Committee does not have authority to make changes to the plan, and emphasized the importance of ongoing public participation as California works to complete the statewide marine protected area network called for under the MLPA.  He said, “It is critical that we have ocean users as partners in conservation.”

• Tags:
• mlpa
• Marine Life Protection Act
• joint committee on fisheries and aquaculture
• mpa
• South Coast