CalOceans News

Protecting California's north coast

One of the coolest things about California's ocean protection planning, through the Marine Life Protection Act, has been the public involvement.  Our state's new underwater parks are being mapped out by local residents, one section of the coast at a time. With so many people relying on the ocean for work and play, there are a lot of different viewpoints. But everyone shares a commitment to improving ocean health, and nowhere has this been more apparent than on the north coast, where community stakeholders came together to propose a single unified plan supported by government officials, fishing groups, and conservationists.

The north coast unified proposal would protect iconic places like Ten-Mile Beach, south Cape Mendocino, and Pyramid Point while leaving all north coast harbors open, and allowing ongoing traditional tribal harvest. It is a balanced solution that considers the circumstances unique to that region. 

The unified plan won approval from the Governor's MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force, and is currently under consideration by the California Fish and Game Commission.

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State officials back north coast ocean plan

Yesterday, the Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force voted unanimously to recommend the marine protected area plan developed by local stakeholders for state waters between Point Arena to the border with Oregon.

The north coast was the first region to submit a unified plan supported by both fishermen and conservationists, and the residents of Humboldt, Mendocino and Del Norte Counties are urging state decision makers to respect their shared vision for sustainable ocean management. 

After nearly a year of study and negotiations, the divers, fishermen, seaweed harvesters, tribal and business leaders, and conservationists tasked with designing marine protected areas for the north coast came together to develop a unified plan that balances economic and environmental concerns. The group agreed on the need to protect tribal harvest and fishing access.

The stakeholder plan was developed with public input gathered during
300 hours of meetings, in addition to 20 public workshops. It would
protect about 13 percent of state waters, including treasured areas
like Reading Rock, South Cape Mendocino and Ten-Mile Beach. The plan
would maintain fishing access at all North Coast harbors and allow
ongoing traditional, non-commercial tribal harvest.

During their two day hearing, the Blue Ribbon Task Force heard from the stakeholders, as well as science advisors and members of the public before passing a motion supporting the unified plan. Final authority rests with the Fish and Game Commission, who will make a final decision in 2011.

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