California Fish and Game Commission Gives Final Approval for South Coast Marin

[CA DFG RSS Feed]

The California Fish and Game Commission adopted regulations to create a new suite of marine protected areas in Southern California. At a Commission meeting in Santa Barbara today, the regulations were adopted as part of the Marine Life Protection Act, which requires California to reexamine and redesign its system of MPAs with the goals to, among other things, increase the effectiveness of MPAs in protecting the state’s marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems and marine natural heritage.

More...

 

[HD Hunter]

The bottom line is: Less fishing opportunity for a growing population. That does not sound like the way to go.

 

[Tino B]

This is one of the biggest tragedies to fishing in CA.
The MPA process was a sham and special interest money was used to push an agenda of ANTI FISHING.
The only thing the MPA's were designed for was to STOP FISHING. It does nothing against pollution, run off, or address the issue that CA has fewer DFG officers per capita than any other state in the nation.So take the eyes and ears of the real protectors on the water and create a poachers paradise. What a great idea....
Lets not even get into the fact that ALL THE FISHERIES IN CA ARE HEALTHY AND SEEING GROWING NUMBERS OF CATCH AND SIZE, thanks in great part to the DFG for using regulations to properly manage the fisheries.
Look at rockfish, halibut, white seabass, to name a few and their numbers have never been better.
This whole process was such a GREEN WASH with the Big plan decided before the process even started.
From the mysterious closed door meetings, to having all the meetings at random locations around CA, during the week when most of the real fisherman/Californian's were working.
After being a part of the Central, North Central, Southern, and the Northern process I can say I have never been more disgusted in government or jaded toward self sustaining one sided science.
From the corrupt and bias Blue Ribbon Task Force, to the appointment of special interest FaG Commission members, the Govenator really put his mark on Kalifonia.
Thanks Arnie, you will forever be the Terminator to the once robust, sustainable, California Fisheries.
Others that helped were the PEW foundation, Packard Foundation (Monterey Bay Aquarium), Ocean Conservancy (goons of the Packard Foundation, they do their dirty footwork and give out plush seal toys for members), Surf Rider Foundation, Friends of Seals, to name a few...Ok rant off.

What the MPA's mean to me?
I have lost over 60% of my safe diving entry points in the Central and North Central areas.
That means that I either, dive less when the ocean is more calm (rare occasions on our coast), or I dive spots that are open to take fish but are exposed to our large Northern swell.
I still dive but now people like my wife and friends who are fair weather divers have no chance in the more exposed locations. There was no need to close off the protected entry and exit points, but they could so the did. End result is less fisherman/divers using the resource, while costs to take part increase to the point that only the affluent can play in the King's Ocean.
And if you like those apples, go buy your 2011 fishing license, ab card, enhancement stamp, two-rod stamp, lobster card, sturgeon card, salmon card, etc...
After your crisp $100 goes into the mans drawer you will feel like you just hit it big in Skee Ball. That’s right you are the proud owner of a 3' x 4" streamer of fun on heat sensitive paper.
Oh man, I never thought I would see the day that I have to make room in my cooler for my fishing license.
Really??? Heat Sensitive Paper in the CA heat? Really???
OK rant done…
My disgust has nothing to do with the DFG as I feel they are doing a thankless job, for little pay, with very few people covering immense areas of land and sea.

 

[TonyS]

Hopefully we will get a court finding that the 'blue ribbon commission' acted completely ILLEGALLY. And the provisions will sit rotting in some bureaucrat's desk as there is no money to do this again. Some criminal prosecution of those responsible as well as corporate punishment ($$$$) would be appropriate.

In the meanwhile, should DFG decide to enforce the chicanery, how about this idea? What if 50 guys got their heads together and decided to fish the 'forbidden zones'? And they all have cell phones to report themselves on the CAL TIP line? Then when a warden would show up at one guy he takes down the name of the warden citing him and the other 49 report the warden as 'refusing to do his duty' in NOT citing the other 49? (There ACTUALLY is a statute for this-it is a CRIME)

I bet that if it happened 3 times the government would find other ways to use government resources. Don't you think?