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MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Recommendations for the North Coast Study Region

Memo from MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Chair Cindy Gustafson to the California Fish and Game Commission regarding MLPA North Coast Recommendations Adobe Reader required

At its meeting on October 25-26, 2010, the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) adopted seven motions with recommendations related to marine protected areas (MPAs) and special closures in the MLPA North Coast Study Region.

The BRTF recommendations are specific to the work of the California Fish and Game Commission, California Department of Fish and Game, and California Department of Parks and Recreation, or more generally to the State of California. An attachment to the document summarizes the actions resulting from the motions adopted by the BRTF, including which proposed MPAs or special closures are affected, the source of their design, and any modifications to the design.

As a result of these recommendations, two MPA proposals and a special closures recommendation are being forwarded to the California Fish and Game Commission for consideration:

  • The "Revised Round 3 NCRSG MPA Proposal", which is the MPA proposal developed by the MLPA North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (NCRSG), revised to incorporate the recommendation by the NCRSG to rename the Ten Mile MPAs after Skip Wollenberg and the staff recommended updates to the recreational take intended to accommodate tribal uses.
  • The "North Coast Enhanced Compliance Alternative MPA Proposal", which builds off the Revised Round 3 NCRSG MPA Proposal, and includes modifications to improve compliance with science guidelines and California Department of Fish and Game feasibility criteria.
  • The "North Coast Special Closures Recommendation", which was developed by the NCRSG and supported by the BRTF.

The BRTF recommendations come after extensive science evaluation, and stakeholder and public input over 16 months. The MLPA North Coast Study Region extends from the California/Oregon border to Alder Creek near Point Arena in Mendocino County.

The MPA proposals and special closures will be analyzed by the MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team (SAT), California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), California Department of Parks and Recreation (California State Parks), and MLPA Initiative staff. The proposals, special closures and associated evaluations will be transmitted to the California Fish and Game Commission.