Oops! Here it is.
http://www.kiene.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=7996
Everybody this is BIG
I looked around the site here but haven't seen anything about MPAs (Marine Protected Areas.) I suggest everybody check their DFG regs. What happened, with fishermen's approval or not, to the Central Coast, is about to happen to the North Coast. This thing sounded great, as we all want to protect the resource we love and depend on for recreation, relaxation, and sanity. Oddly, the process of protecting the thing WE love has been hijacked by protectionists and scientists (no disrespect intended) who don't understand or care about our fishing priveleges. Our commitment to conservation, sportsmanship, and careful stewardship means NOTHING to many of these people. Unless you all get your advocacy groups (TU, American Sportfishing Association, The Nature Conservancy- which, by the way, doesn't yet have a position on this issue- etc) to become "stakeholders" in this process, AND make your position, as a member (and, therefore, cash contributor) clear, you will wake up to find many north coast beaches and estuaries, among them the estuary of the Russian River CLOSED TO ALL FISHING!!! (yes, even fly fishing, even catch and release). These MPAs have been defined to include ESTUARIES AND BEACHES. As a responsible sportsman, I have always been content to abide by the laws and DFG regulations, and believed that management of sport fisheries fell solely within the purview of our democratically elected government. GUESS WHAT? With respect to these MPAs, DFG is not in control. The Blue Ribbon Panel (appointed by Da Guvuhnater) and a Scientific Advisory panel (composed of MANY privately funded PROTECTIONIST/RESEARCH organizations) are in control. They are in the process of public review. Once this process is closed, IT'S ALL OVER!. They are accepting input from groups they have identified as "stakeholder" groups. That means they only recognize ORGANIZED bodies that profess an interest in the issue. SO, you need to contact any organizations you are in, or maybe join some, and make your wishes known. Use email! Inundate the people who control the future of your coastal flyfishing with your demand to be considered. There are also Public Forum dates coming up. Go to the DFG website to see dates, places, and times. I think a bunch of us should show up and raise our concerns. Below is the DFG website URL. Among other things, it lists the different proposals being considered. According to an inadvertent but highly placed source, plan JA is the winner so far. The critical definition is "Marine Reserve", which means NO TAKE. "Take" is defined as pursuit or attempt to capture, solely at the whim, or discretion, of ONE person who's writing this proposed regulation. That means NO FISHING IN THE RUSSIAN RIVER ESTUARY. NO FISHING AT POINT REYES. Get it? There are three levels of protection: Conservation Area, Protected Area, and Reserve. The difference in the management of these three is profound. A "Reserve" means NO FISHING, PERIOD. Check it out: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/nccr...071025_rev.pdf
And......
Hello Members:
Recently, there was a possibility that Pescadero Creek would be closed to all
fishing due to the implementation of the Marine Protection Act on that part of
the California Coast. There were a few meetings and many anglers spoke up
protesting the total closure of the already very limited catch and release
fishing currently allowed. I have found out that the current draft proposals
have now taken out that closure rule to leave the fishing regulations as is. I
did write a letter on behalf of GWWF arguing against the closure for various
reasons and it was good to find out that the Stakeholder workgroups listened to
the common sense of the anglers.
Cindy Charles
Conservation Chair
Just maybe we should be getting REAL busy?
.....lee s.
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