Public Meetings of the BRTF - an Elaborately Staged Kabuki Performance
The MLPA officials have violated numerous state, federal and international laws, including the California Public Records Act, the California Administrative Procedure Act, the Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act, the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
However, the corruption and violations of law are finally being exposed. George Osborn, spokesman for the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO), on February 2 presented the California Fish and Game Commission with a groundbreaking 25 page report containing numerous emails and correspondence documenting illegal private, non-public meetings of Marine Life Protection Act Initiative officials.
“After reviewing the documents turned over to us, which previously the BRTF had improperly withheld from the public, we now have evidence, indicating that the public meetings of the BRTF have been an elaborately staged Kabuki performance, choreographed and rehearsed down to the last detail, even to the crafting of motions, in scheduled private meetings held before the so-called public meetings of the BRTF," said Osborn. "Clearly, this has not been the most open and transparent process, as it has so often been described.”
Osborn also presented the copies of document to California legislators February 17, during a special hearing of the Joint Legislative Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture at the State Capitol in Sacramento in Room 4202. Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata), the chairman of the Joint Committee, had said the hearing will focus exclusively on the South Coast Study Region.
The PSO, a coalition of national and regional fishing organizations including the Coastside Fishing Club and United Anglers of Southern California, filed suit in San Diego Superior Court in late January, seeking to overturn South Coast and North Central Coast MLPA closures, alleging violations of the State Administrative Procedure Act.
To see Osborn's testimony, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7_04BC1acA
To see the entire set of BRTF private meeting documents, go to the San Diego Freedivers website:
http://www.sandiegofreedivers.com/MLPABRTFofflinemeetingdocumentation.pdf
The Ocean Access Protection Fund (OAPF) was formed to collect funds for legal action against policies that do not recognize the conservation efforts of fishermen, or impact recreational access to the ocean on behalf of all California anglers and outdoor enthusiasts concerned with maintaining public access.
http://www.oceanaccessprotectionfund.org/
Last October, a lawsuit was filed to prove our State’s democratic processes apply!
Ruling Confirms MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force and Science Advisory Team Are State Agencies, Forces Public Access to Critical Information
http://www.oceanaccessprotectionfund.org/news.html
AHRA supports the PSO lawsuit!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Option ZERO is not to be confused with Proposal Zero
02/23/11
To: The Joint Legislative Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture
Re: Comment Period to remain open for one week, stated by Assemblymember Wes Chesbro near the end of the 2-day meeting. Thank you sir, working a day job and then MLPA(i) research, review, etc; here I am at the last minute again – I apologize.
Briefly, Option ZERO on the North Coast testimony needs clarification. Clarification is for all statements made as testimony:
Joint Legislative Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, Committee hearing on the Marine Life Protection Act (Thursday Feb. 17, 2011) at the state Capitol. The Marine Life Protection Act is a program to protect California’s marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems and marine natural heritage. The program is divided into five study areas.
The hearing follows by a day, the Committee’s 38th Annual Fisheries Forum, (Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011) at the State Capitol, also in Room 4202. The Feb. 16 forum included an update and public comment on the MLPA statewide. The Feb. 16 forum and the Feb. 17 hearing follow a Jan. 21 hearing the Committee held in Eureka on the MLPA’s North Coast Study Area.
Clarification:
Option ZERO is not to be confused with Proposal Zero.
Option ZERO under CEQA is what most North Coast residents, and especially those involved in the MLPA(i) process are calling for and have stated it exactly so. We are used to dealing with run-away projects of management plans and CEQA analysis of Public Trust Resource policy change, etc.
Option ZERO is out of the CEQA framework and is the 'No Action Alternative'.
Proposal Zero, on the other hand is from within the MLPA(i), and the faulty Master Plan Framework, the individual 'Study Regions' and was never allowed discussion in any group of the MLPA(i) such as the External Array Process, the RSG, the SAT, the BRTF. We were told “it is already on the table” “there's no need to discuss” “the MLPA requires that the existing MPAs be modified” or something to that effect.
Albion Harbor Regional Alliance
To: The Joint Legislative Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture
Re: Comment Period to remain open for one week, stated by Assemblymember Wes Chesbro near the end of the 2-day meeting. Thank you sir, working a day job and then MLPA(i) research, review, etc; here I am at the last minute again – I apologize.
Briefly, Option ZERO on the North Coast testimony needs clarification. Clarification is for all statements made as testimony:
Joint Legislative Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, Committee hearing on the Marine Life Protection Act (Thursday Feb. 17, 2011) at the state Capitol. The Marine Life Protection Act is a program to protect California’s marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems and marine natural heritage. The program is divided into five study areas.
The hearing follows by a day, the Committee’s 38th Annual Fisheries Forum, (Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011) at the State Capitol, also in Room 4202. The Feb. 16 forum included an update and public comment on the MLPA statewide. The Feb. 16 forum and the Feb. 17 hearing follow a Jan. 21 hearing the Committee held in Eureka on the MLPA’s North Coast Study Area.
Clarification:
Option ZERO is not to be confused with Proposal Zero.
Option ZERO under CEQA is what most North Coast residents, and especially those involved in the MLPA(i) process are calling for and have stated it exactly so. We are used to dealing with run-away projects of management plans and CEQA analysis of Public Trust Resource policy change, etc.
Option ZERO is out of the CEQA framework and is the 'No Action Alternative'.
Proposal Zero, on the other hand is from within the MLPA(i), and the faulty Master Plan Framework, the individual 'Study Regions' and was never allowed discussion in any group of the MLPA(i) such as the External Array Process, the RSG, the SAT, the BRTF. We were told “it is already on the table” “there's no need to discuss” “the MLPA requires that the existing MPAs be modified” or something to that effect.
Albion Harbor Regional Alliance
Sunday, February 13, 2011
North Coast Option ZERO
Here is a breakdown of the Public Comments, the last 2 hours (approx) of the Feb 2nd 2011 F&G Commission Special Meeting of the MLPA(i) with the BRTF and RSG, held in Sacramento.
The 'one' minute time limit constraint was imposed upon public comment 2 speakers before I was to speak and I was in line. Many speakers during both the 2 min and 1 min presentation time constraint allowance for public comment went over the time clock, but were not so continuously interrupted.
North Coast Option ZERO and MLPA(i) CEQA Non-Compliance:
What is it they don't want to hear?
While the list appears to be numerically reversed, it reflects the fact that the 2 minute time slot occurred first. At day's end, the Commission discussion start out as a 'motion' by Commissioner Sutton but was limited to “Direction to the Commission” as is stated in the Agenda for the day.
Each Mp3 is 32 kb and can be downloaded over a 56k phone modem in about 20-30 mins.
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/001_pubcom2_mins_02022011.mp3
30 mins 7 MB
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/002_pubcom2_mins_02022011.mp3
17 mins 4 MB
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/001_pubcom1_mins_02022011.mp3
25 mins 6 MB
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/002_pubcom1_mins_02022011.mp3
25 mins 6 MB
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/003_commissiondiscussion_02022011.mp3
23 mins 5.5 MB
Tomas DiFiore
Seaweed Rebellion
The 'one' minute time limit constraint was imposed upon public comment 2 speakers before I was to speak and I was in line. Many speakers during both the 2 min and 1 min presentation time constraint allowance for public comment went over the time clock, but were not so continuously interrupted.
North Coast Option ZERO and MLPA(i) CEQA Non-Compliance:
What is it they don't want to hear?
While the list appears to be numerically reversed, it reflects the fact that the 2 minute time slot occurred first. At day's end, the Commission discussion start out as a 'motion' by Commissioner Sutton but was limited to “Direction to the Commission” as is stated in the Agenda for the day.
Each Mp3 is 32 kb and can be downloaded over a 56k phone modem in about 20-30 mins.
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/001_pubcom2_mins_02022011.mp3
30 mins 7 MB
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/002_pubcom2_mins_02022011.mp3
17 mins 4 MB
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/001_pubcom1_mins_02022011.mp3
25 mins 6 MB
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/002_pubcom1_mins_02022011.mp3
25 mins 6 MB
http://www.albionharbor.org/audiotakes/fgc/003_commissiondiscussion_02022011.mp3
23 mins 5.5 MB
Tomas DiFiore
Seaweed Rebellion
Enhanced Compliance to Non-Compliance: North Coast Option ZERO Split Decision
http://www.albionharbor.org/fisheriesaudio.html
Public Comment to Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro's January 21st 2011 California State Assembly Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture meeting in Eureka, showed people in attendance were split almost evenly (including Tribal chairpersons) between the Unified Array and Option ZERO. Tribal elders and younger Tribal members, RSG, and the public throughout the day, mentioned halting the process and Option ZERO more times than the 'One Unified Array' was mentioned.
Option ZERO is not a No Action Alternative. The following is a small incomplete list of items that are legally separate from the MLPA(i) and could follow through a formal continuance to resolution:
1) Tribal Aboriginal Rights, Access, Government to Government relations and consultation, New Tribal Use Category by the Commission and/or Legislature
2) Special Closures, which are separate from MPAs under DFG code sections
3) State Parks boundary adjustments, enforcement feasibility
4) North Coast Fisheries Co-Adaptive Management Strategies
5) Consideration of the benefits under 15064.(e) of current economic improvement grant programs on the North Coast that benefit marine resources
AHRA requests through an Option ZERO CEQA analysis that a determination and assessment of LEK and TEK as submitted into the NCSR process is separate and distinct from that which would be categorized under CEQA in: 15064. (5) Argument, speculation, unsubstantiated opinion or narrative, or evidence that is clearly inaccurate or erroneous, or evidence that is not credible, shall not constitute substantial evidence. Substantial evidence shall include facts, reasonable assumptions predicated upon facts, and expert opinion supported by facts.
Melissa Miller-Henson stated at the 02022011 F&G Commission hearing that there were 1900 participants on the North Coast in the MLPA. Between Point Arena and Shelter Cove, 1200 signatures in support of Option ZERO were submitted to Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro and the F&G Commission.
Many Wild Ocean Food Gatherers from Point Arena to Shelter Cove and north support Option ZERO.
It is important to honor the effort of the RSG and the 'One Unified Proposal'. Listening carefully, one can discern that even RSG members differentiate betweeb the original 'Unified Array' proposal and the Revised North Coast Proposal (RNCP) is not the same one the RSG agreed to among themselves in August 2010 and the Ten Mile Cluster MPA near Fort Bragg is much larger.
Learn about OPTION ZERO on the North Coast, visit:
http://www.albionharbor.org/optionzero.html
http://www.albionharbor.org
MLPAI Closures Target Shelter Cove Hook-and-Line Fishery
The remote Humboldt County community of Shelter Cove is home port to a fleet of about fifteen full and part-time commercial hook-and-line fishers, operating from small boats in state waters. "Shelter Cove’s small independent hook-and-line fishers are a disadvantaged group with few resources, living from paycheck to paycheck, so dedicating time away from putting food on the table to attend countless meetings with unsympathetic MLPAI staff is not an option," Sack explained to Senator Evans.
Susan Sack delivered a petition signed by one thousand Shelter Cove residents, visitors and other local directly affected stakeholders to Assemblyman Wes Chesbro on January 21, calling for no expansion of the existing MPAs on the North Coast and proposing the State protect California's existing MPAs from mineral extraction, aquaculture, pollution, energy farms and other damaging manmade effects. "All the board members of our local government, the Shelter Cove Resort Improvement District signed my petition, rejecting the Unified Array, and supporting Option Zero," she said.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/02/06/18671425.php
MLPAI Closures Target Shelter Cove Hook-and-Line Fishery
by John Lewallen
February 1, 2011
Contact: Susan Sack or Don Sack, home (707)986-1639
Susan Sack's letter to Senator Evans concludes, "Please stop this corporate takeover of resources, suspend the MLPAI implementation and work to promote our caring local sustainable fishing communities instead of global consortiums who will put money before the health of our oceans or the Californian people."
"Shelter Cove is a sacrifice zone in the so-called Unified Array of new Marine Protected Areas proposed for California’s North Coast by the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative process. Shelter Cove area closures threaten to kill the sustainable hook-and-line recreation and commercial fishery here, for no good reason. The near shore ecosystem on the North Coast is healthy and does not need protecting. That’s why the Shelter Cove community is united for Option Zero: no new Marine Protected Areas for California’s North Coast. Once these areas are established they can be enlarged or moved even over local objections."
Susan Sack, Administrative Secretary of the Shelter Cove Resort Improvement District and wife of third-generation commercial hook-and-line fisherman Don Sack, is frustrated and angry. In a January 24 letter to Senator Noreen Evans, she wrote:
"Fishing regulations around Shelter Cove are already the most restrictive on the Pacific Coast, in fact the planet. With the creation of new Marine Protected Areas within state waters many popular fishing areas are being closed off to fishing. My husband is already being forced to fish areas farther and farther from home with the existing regulations and small open areas are seeing a more concentrated fishing effort and they are not adequate to keep our sustainable hook-and-line fishery healthy. Our family’s fishing business is facing bankruptcy and we are facing a future with no other job opportunities in our small coastal community or the surrounding area."
Re-posted by Tomas DiFiore
Albion Harbor Regional Alliance
albionharbor.org
Look for the audio posting of most if not ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS TO DATE on the North Coast at the AHRA website.
"If ever there was a time and place for Option ZERO, it is the North Coast"... Gabriel Quinn Maroney to the F&G Commission 02022011.
Public Comment to Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro's January 21st 2011 California State Assembly Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture meeting in Eureka, showed people in attendance were split almost evenly (including Tribal chairpersons) between the Unified Array and Option ZERO. Tribal elders and younger Tribal members, RSG, and the public throughout the day, mentioned halting the process and Option ZERO more times than the 'One Unified Array' was mentioned.
Option ZERO is not a No Action Alternative. The following is a small incomplete list of items that are legally separate from the MLPA(i) and could follow through a formal continuance to resolution:
1) Tribal Aboriginal Rights, Access, Government to Government relations and consultation, New Tribal Use Category by the Commission and/or Legislature
2) Special Closures, which are separate from MPAs under DFG code sections
3) State Parks boundary adjustments, enforcement feasibility
4) North Coast Fisheries Co-Adaptive Management Strategies
5) Consideration of the benefits under 15064.(e) of current economic improvement grant programs on the North Coast that benefit marine resources
AHRA requests through an Option ZERO CEQA analysis that a determination and assessment of LEK and TEK as submitted into the NCSR process is separate and distinct from that which would be categorized under CEQA in: 15064. (5) Argument, speculation, unsubstantiated opinion or narrative, or evidence that is clearly inaccurate or erroneous, or evidence that is not credible, shall not constitute substantial evidence. Substantial evidence shall include facts, reasonable assumptions predicated upon facts, and expert opinion supported by facts.
Melissa Miller-Henson stated at the 02022011 F&G Commission hearing that there were 1900 participants on the North Coast in the MLPA. Between Point Arena and Shelter Cove, 1200 signatures in support of Option ZERO were submitted to Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro and the F&G Commission.
Many Wild Ocean Food Gatherers from Point Arena to Shelter Cove and north support Option ZERO.
It is important to honor the effort of the RSG and the 'One Unified Proposal'. Listening carefully, one can discern that even RSG members differentiate betweeb the original 'Unified Array' proposal and the Revised North Coast Proposal (RNCP) is not the same one the RSG agreed to among themselves in August 2010 and the Ten Mile Cluster MPA near Fort Bragg is much larger.
Learn about OPTION ZERO on the North Coast, visit:
http://www.albionharbor.org/optionzero.html
http://www.albionharbor.org
MLPAI Closures Target Shelter Cove Hook-and-Line Fishery
The remote Humboldt County community of Shelter Cove is home port to a fleet of about fifteen full and part-time commercial hook-and-line fishers, operating from small boats in state waters. "Shelter Cove’s small independent hook-and-line fishers are a disadvantaged group with few resources, living from paycheck to paycheck, so dedicating time away from putting food on the table to attend countless meetings with unsympathetic MLPAI staff is not an option," Sack explained to Senator Evans.
Susan Sack delivered a petition signed by one thousand Shelter Cove residents, visitors and other local directly affected stakeholders to Assemblyman Wes Chesbro on January 21, calling for no expansion of the existing MPAs on the North Coast and proposing the State protect California's existing MPAs from mineral extraction, aquaculture, pollution, energy farms and other damaging manmade effects. "All the board members of our local government, the Shelter Cove Resort Improvement District signed my petition, rejecting the Unified Array, and supporting Option Zero," she said.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/02/06/18671425.php
MLPAI Closures Target Shelter Cove Hook-and-Line Fishery
by John Lewallen
February 1, 2011
Contact: Susan Sack or Don Sack, home (707)986-1639
Susan Sack's letter to Senator Evans concludes, "Please stop this corporate takeover of resources, suspend the MLPAI implementation and work to promote our caring local sustainable fishing communities instead of global consortiums who will put money before the health of our oceans or the Californian people."
"Shelter Cove is a sacrifice zone in the so-called Unified Array of new Marine Protected Areas proposed for California’s North Coast by the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative process. Shelter Cove area closures threaten to kill the sustainable hook-and-line recreation and commercial fishery here, for no good reason. The near shore ecosystem on the North Coast is healthy and does not need protecting. That’s why the Shelter Cove community is united for Option Zero: no new Marine Protected Areas for California’s North Coast. Once these areas are established they can be enlarged or moved even over local objections."
Susan Sack, Administrative Secretary of the Shelter Cove Resort Improvement District and wife of third-generation commercial hook-and-line fisherman Don Sack, is frustrated and angry. In a January 24 letter to Senator Noreen Evans, she wrote:
"Fishing regulations around Shelter Cove are already the most restrictive on the Pacific Coast, in fact the planet. With the creation of new Marine Protected Areas within state waters many popular fishing areas are being closed off to fishing. My husband is already being forced to fish areas farther and farther from home with the existing regulations and small open areas are seeing a more concentrated fishing effort and they are not adequate to keep our sustainable hook-and-line fishery healthy. Our family’s fishing business is facing bankruptcy and we are facing a future with no other job opportunities in our small coastal community or the surrounding area."
Re-posted by Tomas DiFiore
Albion Harbor Regional Alliance
albionharbor.org
Look for the audio posting of most if not ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS TO DATE on the North Coast at the AHRA website.
"If ever there was a time and place for Option ZERO, it is the North Coast"... Gabriel Quinn Maroney to the F&G Commission 02022011.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
City of Point Arena, Southern Mendocino County; in the North Coast MLPA Process
Point Arena was initially severed from Mendocino County in the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative North Central Coast process.
Soon after Point Arena was fully processed, it sent a wake up call to the rest of the north coast of California and the counties of Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte.
The folks on the Albion River at the Albion Harbor Regional Alliance which shares the open coastal waters closest to Point Arena for recreational and commercial fishing and subsistence ocean food gathering have worked closely with residents and the City of Point Arena to include them in the North Coast process.
The original signed version (copy) can be found here:
http://www.albionharbor.org/oceana/pointarenaresolution.pdf
News of the official position of the City of Point Arena first reached the MLPAi process at the North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (NCRSG) meeting in Crescent City during presentation of the North Coast External Arrays to the RSG members which signals the beginning of Round 2; Development of MPA arrays to be submitted to the Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) in November 2010.
This is the text from the the City of Point Arena Resolution 2010-03:
RESOLUTION NO. 2010-03
Resolution of Position Regarding the Establishment of New MPAs
On the Coast of Mendocino County March 22, 2010
Whereas, the City of Point Arena recognizes the need for responsible Marine Resource Management; and
Whereas, the City of Point Arena recognizes the government agencies of the State of California have already been successfully managing the marine resources adjacent to Mendocino County, at sustainable levels, without the use of additional MPAs; and
Whereas, the Science Advisory Team’s Science Guidelines for size and spacing of MPAs and the MLPA Masterplan goals and objectives, recommend that MPAs should be placed between 31 and 62 miles apart, as documented in the January 13, 2010 updated summary to the BRTF from the MLPA Staff on page 7 of the “Appendix B”; and
Whereas, the “Tri-County Group” has adopted a policy of including a “Small Craft Safety Buffer Zone” with no MPAs within a ten mile radius around ports, and experienced local experts agree that this safety zone is necessary due to the nature of North Coast weather and sea conditions; and
Whereas, the MPAs already approved during the North Central Coast MLPA process include an area of over 20 square miles within a ten mile radius of Arena Cove; and
Whereas, the MLPAI, in the Ecotrust report of May 13, 2008, has already projected a loss to the Commercial Fishermen alone from Arena Cove of 16.5% of their income; and
Whereas, the City’s main income for maintaining and operating the Arena Cove Harbor facilities comes from fishing activities; and
Whereas, due to the existing MPAs as of April 1, 2010, the fishermen from Arena Cove already will be subjected to longer trips, greater hazards and greater expenses in order to expand their range; and
Whereas, the ports of Mendocino County have historically shared marine resources, infrastructure, search and rescue, enforcement, and navigational aides and they expect to continue this practice;
Now, therefore, the City of Point Arena resolves that it is in the best interests of the City, the Port of Arena Cove, local citizens, local fishermen and sea food gatherers, and all mariners in general: that no new MPAs should be added to the coast, estuaries or bays within a distance of 31 miles northward from the Point Arena SMR, and not closer than ten miles to any of the historic neighboring Ports of Albion River and Noyo River.
Further be it resolved that in the North Coast MLPA Study Region, all socioeconomic data will include references to Point Arena and the Port of Arena Cove and that all maps of Proposed MPA Arrays will include the Four Existing MPAS near Arena Cove.
The only exceptions to this resolution are the following:
1. We recognize the necessity for the currently proposed Navarro River Estuary SMR. Although the spacing of Estuarine MPAs is less critical, the Navarro River Estuary is the closest estuary to the Russian River SMR to our south (at a distance of about 65 miles) that meets the MLPAI Guidelines.
2. We recommend the continued existence of the Point Cabrillo MPA(s) with only minor adjustments to the size and shape (not to exceed 10%) and changes to the existing regulations for the sole scientific purpose of setting up controlled experiments to study the interactions of Red Sea Urchins, Red Abalone, and Kelp and the sustainable harvest of these species by humans.
Of the recently released eight “Round 1 – North Coast External Proposed Arrays” the following four arrays meet the above standards: Array B from the Mendocino County Community Alliance (MOCA), Array F from the Albion Harbor Regional Alliance (AHRA), Array G from North Coast Local interest MPA Work Group (formerly The Tri-County Group), and Array H from the California Fisheries Coalition (CFC).
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of March, 2010 by the following roll call vote:
Present were:
Lauren Sinnot, Mayor of the City and Council Members Ingham and Griboli
Mr. Ingham drove all the way to Crescent City from Point Arena on March 24th, 2010 to make a statement to MLPAi Staff and the RSG members during public comment.
Listen to his statement.
Visit Mendocino, visit Mendocino County, visit Point Arena, visit Albion, visit the Mendocino Coast and enjoy Locally Wild Caught Sustainable Seafood. Ask about the Local Ocean Food Providers that supply the restaurants and stores.
Point Arena, Albion, and the Noyo are all "working" harbors with active commercial docks and weighmasters.
Soon after Point Arena was fully processed, it sent a wake up call to the rest of the north coast of California and the counties of Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte.
The folks on the Albion River at the Albion Harbor Regional Alliance which shares the open coastal waters closest to Point Arena for recreational and commercial fishing and subsistence ocean food gathering have worked closely with residents and the City of Point Arena to include them in the North Coast process.
The original signed version (copy) can be found here:
http://www.albionharbor.org/oceana/pointarenaresolution.pdf
News of the official position of the City of Point Arena first reached the MLPAi process at the North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (NCRSG) meeting in Crescent City during presentation of the North Coast External Arrays to the RSG members which signals the beginning of Round 2; Development of MPA arrays to be submitted to the Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) in November 2010.
This is the text from the the City of Point Arena Resolution 2010-03:
RESOLUTION NO. 2010-03
Resolution of Position Regarding the Establishment of New MPAs
On the Coast of Mendocino County March 22, 2010
Whereas, the City of Point Arena recognizes the need for responsible Marine Resource Management; and
Whereas, the City of Point Arena recognizes the government agencies of the State of California have already been successfully managing the marine resources adjacent to Mendocino County, at sustainable levels, without the use of additional MPAs; and
Whereas, the Science Advisory Team’s Science Guidelines for size and spacing of MPAs and the MLPA Masterplan goals and objectives, recommend that MPAs should be placed between 31 and 62 miles apart, as documented in the January 13, 2010 updated summary to the BRTF from the MLPA Staff on page 7 of the “Appendix B”; and
Whereas, the “Tri-County Group” has adopted a policy of including a “Small Craft Safety Buffer Zone” with no MPAs within a ten mile radius around ports, and experienced local experts agree that this safety zone is necessary due to the nature of North Coast weather and sea conditions; and
Whereas, the MPAs already approved during the North Central Coast MLPA process include an area of over 20 square miles within a ten mile radius of Arena Cove; and
Whereas, the MLPAI, in the Ecotrust report of May 13, 2008, has already projected a loss to the Commercial Fishermen alone from Arena Cove of 16.5% of their income; and
Whereas, the City’s main income for maintaining and operating the Arena Cove Harbor facilities comes from fishing activities; and
Whereas, due to the existing MPAs as of April 1, 2010, the fishermen from Arena Cove already will be subjected to longer trips, greater hazards and greater expenses in order to expand their range; and
Whereas, the ports of Mendocino County have historically shared marine resources, infrastructure, search and rescue, enforcement, and navigational aides and they expect to continue this practice;
Now, therefore, the City of Point Arena resolves that it is in the best interests of the City, the Port of Arena Cove, local citizens, local fishermen and sea food gatherers, and all mariners in general: that no new MPAs should be added to the coast, estuaries or bays within a distance of 31 miles northward from the Point Arena SMR, and not closer than ten miles to any of the historic neighboring Ports of Albion River and Noyo River.
Further be it resolved that in the North Coast MLPA Study Region, all socioeconomic data will include references to Point Arena and the Port of Arena Cove and that all maps of Proposed MPA Arrays will include the Four Existing MPAS near Arena Cove.
The only exceptions to this resolution are the following:
1. We recognize the necessity for the currently proposed Navarro River Estuary SMR. Although the spacing of Estuarine MPAs is less critical, the Navarro River Estuary is the closest estuary to the Russian River SMR to our south (at a distance of about 65 miles) that meets the MLPAI Guidelines.
2. We recommend the continued existence of the Point Cabrillo MPA(s) with only minor adjustments to the size and shape (not to exceed 10%) and changes to the existing regulations for the sole scientific purpose of setting up controlled experiments to study the interactions of Red Sea Urchins, Red Abalone, and Kelp and the sustainable harvest of these species by humans.
Of the recently released eight “Round 1 – North Coast External Proposed Arrays” the following four arrays meet the above standards: Array B from the Mendocino County Community Alliance (MOCA), Array F from the Albion Harbor Regional Alliance (AHRA), Array G from North Coast Local interest MPA Work Group (formerly The Tri-County Group), and Array H from the California Fisheries Coalition (CFC).
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of March, 2010 by the following roll call vote:
Present were:
Lauren Sinnot, Mayor of the City and Council Members Ingham and Griboli
Mr. Ingham drove all the way to Crescent City from Point Arena on March 24th, 2010 to make a statement to MLPAi Staff and the RSG members during public comment.
Listen to his statement.
Visit Mendocino, visit Mendocino County, visit Point Arena, visit Albion, visit the Mendocino Coast and enjoy Locally Wild Caught Sustainable Seafood. Ask about the Local Ocean Food Providers that supply the restaurants and stores.
Point Arena, Albion, and the Noyo are all "working" harbors with active commercial docks and weighmasters.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
New York News - Off The Hook: Why Local Seafood is Sustainable
Subject: [COMFOOD:] Greenmarket Educated Eater Panel: Local Seafood, 3/13, NYC
Greenmarket's Educated Eater series presents Off The Hook: Why Local
Seafood is Sustainable
Saturday, March 13th from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm at 92Y Tribeca
Do you want to know what fish are sustainable to eat? Are you confused
by pocket seafood guides and competing certification labels? Do you
wonder if any fish sold at farmer's markets are overfished?
Greenmarket will bring together fishermen, a regulatory agent, a
marine advocate, and a chef to help untangle these questions and talk
about what's being done to promote sustainable fishing practices and
why it's important to support our local fishing families and
communities.
Moderated by Colin Alevras former Chef of the Tasting Room and
currently Beverage Director for David Chang's Momofuku restaurants,
and including: Greenmarket fishermen Alex and Stephanie Villani of
Blue Moon Fish http://bluemoonfish.com/; Glen Bickelman of American
Seafood; Christopher M. Moore, Chief of the Partnerships and
Communications Division in the office of Sustainable Fisheries at NOAA
Fisheries Service http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/; and Niaz Dorry,
Director of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA)
http://www.namanet.org/
Light local snacks and New York State wine will be served.
Tickets are $10 and available at 92Ytribeca.org/talks or through the
box office at 212-601-1000.
92Y Tribeca is located at 200 Hudson Street, at Canal.
Sabine Hrechdakian
Special Projects and Publicity Manager, Greenmarket
GrowNYC (formerly Council on the Environment of NYC)
51 Chambers Street, Room 1231
New York, NY 10007
t. 212.341.2258
c. 917.538.7417
f. 212.571.0778
Sabine@greenmarket.grownyc.org
Growing awareness. minds. food. gardens... growing a better NYC.
Get Involved at GrowNYC.org
Greenmarket's Educated Eater series presents Off The Hook: Why Local
Seafood is Sustainable
Saturday, March 13th from 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm at 92Y Tribeca
Do you want to know what fish are sustainable to eat? Are you confused
by pocket seafood guides and competing certification labels? Do you
wonder if any fish sold at farmer's markets are overfished?
Greenmarket will bring together fishermen, a regulatory agent, a
marine advocate, and a chef to help untangle these questions and talk
about what's being done to promote sustainable fishing practices and
why it's important to support our local fishing families and
communities.
Moderated by Colin Alevras former Chef of the Tasting Room and
currently Beverage Director for David Chang's Momofuku restaurants,
and including: Greenmarket fishermen Alex and Stephanie Villani of
Blue Moon Fish http://bluemoonfish.com/; Glen Bickelman of American
Seafood; Christopher M. Moore, Chief of the Partnerships and
Communications Division in the office of Sustainable Fisheries at NOAA
Fisheries Service http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/; and Niaz Dorry,
Director of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance (NAMA)
http://www.namanet.org/
Light local snacks and New York State wine will be served.
Tickets are $10 and available at 92Ytribeca.org/talks or through the
box office at 212-601-1000.
92Y Tribeca is located at 200 Hudson Street, at Canal.
Sabine Hrechdakian
Special Projects and Publicity Manager, Greenmarket
GrowNYC (formerly Council on the Environment of NYC)
51 Chambers Street, Room 1231
New York, NY 10007
t. 212.341.2258
c. 917.538.7417
f. 212.571.0778
Sabine@greenmarket.grownyc.org
Growing awareness. minds. food. gardens... growing a better NYC.
Get Involved at GrowNYC.org
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Community Digital Democracy Portal (CDDP) on the Albion River
Always appreciate having a good story as a lead in.
"Locals, Students, Navigate Choppy Seas of MLPAi"
http://www.topix.com/city/fort-bragg-ca/2009/12/locals-students-navigate-choppy-seas-of-mlpai
by Frank Hartzell 12/11/2009
Staff writer for the Fort Bragg Advocate News and Mendocino Beacon
http://www.topix.com/city/fort-bragg-ca
"Even the most critical of participants have become overwhelmed by both the huge amount of process data coming out and the lack of scientific data by which they must make decisions in very short order."
"One group that has separated itself from a process they don't trust are Albion residents, represented at the meeting by Mike Carpenter, who said their website is up at albionharbor.org"
Yes, please visit http://albionharbor.org and see the easily accessible information and links to sources of data from both sides of the situation.
The story of Albion River Campgrounds and commercial dock, and the Albion Harbor Regional Alliance involvement in the Marine Life Protection Act initiative is too big to tell in Frank Hartzell's almost 40 articles on the MLPAi. Albion residents have been involved in the process officially for every iteration over the course of 10 years. Strong community ties and social networking capabilities have been the hallmark of Albion's involvement in any issue.
Current AHRA members have worked together wearing many hats under many slogans and organizations for many community projects, not just fishing - but included here are the California Fisheries Coalition, Recreational Fishing Alliance, Salmon Restoration Association and the North Coast Fishermen’s Association not to mention members holding commercial and or recreational fishing licenses in every open fishery.
This summer/fall heated up with the "Take A Stand" concert, also known as Mike Carpenter's Awareness Concert when over 500 people came to learn about the MLPAi and enjoy a Wild Food and Seafood Tasting Event. AHRA members were part of the Seaweed Stewardship Alliance and Kashia Tribe (Seaweed Rebellion) that halted the MLPAi process back in Oct 2008 for 4 months. Oh yes, watch the Oct 2nd 2008 video. Stewards Point and Point Arena Sea Lion Cove were eventually closed to Seaweed and Abalone gathering August 5th, 2009.
http://www.cal-span.org/cgi-bin/media.pl?folder=CFG
Members of AHRA are listed members of MOCA and some are RSG nominees. We have been before the Board of Supervisors along with MOCA and the CFC in November. We currently are receiving support and encouragement from Point Arena to Noyo from recreational, commercial, and subsistence sectors including tour operators. We are all in this together. Since the beginning, that has been AHRAs' claim along with a goal to work with MOCA and groups in Humboldt and Del Norte, as stated by myself, Mike Carpenter, Terry Nieves. We get plenty of thank you kudos for our site, the many brochures throughout the summer, and our continuing efforts are gaining momentum.
Before MOCA had it's name, it's vision statement, it's funding apparatus, AHRA had direction and experience. It is a real pleasure to work with the many people in MOCA that I have known through the years. Bill Heil and Linda Perkins, Mayor Doug Hammerstrom and Linda Ruffing, new folks I have met like some of the fishers. It's a small community. We are lucky to have some astute process oriented people in the crowd like Dr Jeanine Pfeifer, and Jim Martin. Also many thanks are due Dave Wright who has great area connections, a mild disposition (useful as group facilitator), tech skills, and in the beginning was the first to invite the Mendocino Ocean Community Alliance to do outreach to local businesses with an educational daylong event.
Critics or not of the process, every fishing coalition, family angler, diver, coastal community and marina or harbor district maritime related businesses in the previous 3 "study regions" are already suffering economic impacts from recent implementation protocols. And everyone reluctantly, participated in being processed.
The only thing we at AHRA have separated ourselves from is the "green money". Yeah, those green collar jobs, backed by payroll science as policy, employing locals and closing cultural place based social structures and local food movements. Fishermen were some of the first against "offshore oil" attested to by an early "NO OIL" sticker found in David Gurney's archives.
We have been busy, we don't stop. Crabbers and Urchin divers are losing money every day they don't work to attend meetings of the external array working group, the MOCA meetings, the BRTF meetings, the SAT meetings, the DFG Commission meetings.
Just the Draft North Coast profile document is almost 170 pages. It must be read, adjusted by comments, corrected, and augmented by the RSG, SAT, BRTF, etc..., all a massive undertaking.
And then there are the Goals and Objectives of the Master Plan Framework.
Just the process itself keeps fishers out of the water and ought to be considered as an "adaptive management tool and temporal MPA".
The Albion Flats Cafe at the Albion River Campground is our Community Digital Democracy Portal (CDDP) thanks to Bruce Campbell. Albion River Campground is the home of the "Take A Stand Concert". http://www.albionrivercampground.com/index.html
Science Politics and Salmon: A YouTube Video from Salmon Water Now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc5LC3HGWgE&fmt=18
"Locals, Students, Navigate Choppy Seas of MLPAi"
http://www.topix.com/city/fort-bragg-ca/2009/12/locals-students-navigate-choppy-seas-of-mlpai
by Frank Hartzell 12/11/2009
Staff writer for the Fort Bragg Advocate News and Mendocino Beacon
http://www.topix.com/city/fort-bragg-ca
"Even the most critical of participants have become overwhelmed by both the huge amount of process data coming out and the lack of scientific data by which they must make decisions in very short order."
"One group that has separated itself from a process they don't trust are Albion residents, represented at the meeting by Mike Carpenter, who said their website is up at albionharbor.org"
Yes, please visit http://albionharbor.org and see the easily accessible information and links to sources of data from both sides of the situation.
The story of Albion River Campgrounds and commercial dock, and the Albion Harbor Regional Alliance involvement in the Marine Life Protection Act initiative is too big to tell in Frank Hartzell's almost 40 articles on the MLPAi. Albion residents have been involved in the process officially for every iteration over the course of 10 years. Strong community ties and social networking capabilities have been the hallmark of Albion's involvement in any issue.
Current AHRA members have worked together wearing many hats under many slogans and organizations for many community projects, not just fishing - but included here are the California Fisheries Coalition, Recreational Fishing Alliance, Salmon Restoration Association and the North Coast Fishermen’s Association not to mention members holding commercial and or recreational fishing licenses in every open fishery.
This summer/fall heated up with the "Take A Stand" concert, also known as Mike Carpenter's Awareness Concert when over 500 people came to learn about the MLPAi and enjoy a Wild Food and Seafood Tasting Event. AHRA members were part of the Seaweed Stewardship Alliance and Kashia Tribe (Seaweed Rebellion) that halted the MLPAi process back in Oct 2008 for 4 months. Oh yes, watch the Oct 2nd 2008 video. Stewards Point and Point Arena Sea Lion Cove were eventually closed to Seaweed and Abalone gathering August 5th, 2009.
http://www.cal-span.org/cgi-bin/media.pl?folder=CFG
Members of AHRA are listed members of MOCA and some are RSG nominees. We have been before the Board of Supervisors along with MOCA and the CFC in November. We currently are receiving support and encouragement from Point Arena to Noyo from recreational, commercial, and subsistence sectors including tour operators. We are all in this together. Since the beginning, that has been AHRAs' claim along with a goal to work with MOCA and groups in Humboldt and Del Norte, as stated by myself, Mike Carpenter, Terry Nieves. We get plenty of thank you kudos for our site, the many brochures throughout the summer, and our continuing efforts are gaining momentum.
Before MOCA had it's name, it's vision statement, it's funding apparatus, AHRA had direction and experience. It is a real pleasure to work with the many people in MOCA that I have known through the years. Bill Heil and Linda Perkins, Mayor Doug Hammerstrom and Linda Ruffing, new folks I have met like some of the fishers. It's a small community. We are lucky to have some astute process oriented people in the crowd like Dr Jeanine Pfeifer, and Jim Martin. Also many thanks are due Dave Wright who has great area connections, a mild disposition (useful as group facilitator), tech skills, and in the beginning was the first to invite the Mendocino Ocean Community Alliance to do outreach to local businesses with an educational daylong event.
Critics or not of the process, every fishing coalition, family angler, diver, coastal community and marina or harbor district maritime related businesses in the previous 3 "study regions" are already suffering economic impacts from recent implementation protocols. And everyone reluctantly, participated in being processed.
The only thing we at AHRA have separated ourselves from is the "green money". Yeah, those green collar jobs, backed by payroll science as policy, employing locals and closing cultural place based social structures and local food movements. Fishermen were some of the first against "offshore oil" attested to by an early "NO OIL" sticker found in David Gurney's archives.
We have been busy, we don't stop. Crabbers and Urchin divers are losing money every day they don't work to attend meetings of the external array working group, the MOCA meetings, the BRTF meetings, the SAT meetings, the DFG Commission meetings.
Just the Draft North Coast profile document is almost 170 pages. It must be read, adjusted by comments, corrected, and augmented by the RSG, SAT, BRTF, etc..., all a massive undertaking.
And then there are the Goals and Objectives of the Master Plan Framework.
Just the process itself keeps fishers out of the water and ought to be considered as an "adaptive management tool and temporal MPA".
The Albion Flats Cafe at the Albion River Campground is our Community Digital Democracy Portal (CDDP) thanks to Bruce Campbell. Albion River Campground is the home of the "Take A Stand Concert". http://www.albionrivercampground.com/index.html
Science Politics and Salmon: A YouTube Video from Salmon Water Now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc5LC3HGWgE&fmt=18
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Albion Nation And It's Harbor: Still Alive And Well
Albion is centrally located in the 60 miles of coastline between Point Arena and Fort Bragg harbors. Businesses such as those located in the Albion Harbor and Fishing Village are similar to many small businesses along the coast that are host to many different user groups.
AHRA's purpose was born out of a need for representation in the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. We feel that it is important to inform Mendocino County businesses and residents i.e., ocean user groups that will be impacted by the MLPA-Initiative process.
AHRA's intent is to cooperate with all parties involved in the MLPA process to the best of our ability. Our main focus will be to communicate to the MLPA process, local concerns regarding the socio-economic and environmental impacts to all communities influenced by the placement of Marine Protected Areas.
A Sampling Coastal Ocean User Groups Affected:
Commercial and Sport fishers, fish processing employment, dock jobs, boat building, boat repairs, dry dock haulout, fuel docks, fishing tackle stores, charter boats, divers, abalone divers, cultural uses of Tribal Indigenous Peoples, kayakers, wedding parties, car clubs, Statewide school events, Inns and B&B's, food and hardware stores, restaurants, conventions, the fishing village tourism industry, the arts, bicycle clubs, homeowners, visitors, whale watchers, equestrians, college programs, subsistence food gatherers, environmental study programs, and many more.
Watch For Whales!
The AHRA staff
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