MLPA's Redux....
Just a few thoughts on MLPA's and the current segment of the ongoing project and how it relates to those of us who don't necessarily see any impact on their fishing areas. A cursory reading of the project action plan indicates the way the areas were divided so that the overall project could be implemented by regions. Several regions have been established and the last of them to be studied is the SF/Suisun Bays up to Carquinez Straight. I'm not sure how many MLPA's will be established in the bays but the action plan doesn't contain much language to indicate that changes will not occur as a result of any studies completed. In other words, a project is not considered a success unless some sort of action is the result. (regardless of its real or imagined need). Considering the bad news reported by the news media the last few days, it wouldn't surprise me to find that further expansion of closures, etc., is in the offing for the Delta.
From the action plan, "Key habitat" is identified as those having the following items for the purposes of protection:
"sand beach, shallow rock, deep rock, rocky inter-tidal, estuary, shallow sand, deep sand, kelp, shallow canyon, deep canyon." Is there anything else in the marine environment (hmmm.... Mud??)
The only item I didn't understand was the inclusion of estuaries in the marine environment. Even the dictionary can't stretch the definition that far.... Which is why I would be concerned about expansion of the project to include the Delta, as well.
Enough gloom and doom for now....
"America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote."
Author unknown
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