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Only One Local Appointed to Schwarzenegger's MLPA North Coast Panel

by Dan Bacher

November 18, 2009 -- Mike Chrisman, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Secretary for Natural Resources, on Monday announced the Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) membership for the Marine Life Protection (MLPA) Initiatives North Coast Study Region, drawing criticism from fishing groups, environmentalists and Indian Tribes that only one local person was appointed to the panel that will develop "marine protected areas" (MPAs) for the region.
 
Former Assemblywoman Virginia Strom-Martin, current Humboldt County Supervisor Jimmy Smith and Lawyer/Mediator and Chumash Maritime Association Co-Founder Roberta Cordero were named to the panel. Cindy Gustafson, general manager for the Tahoe City Public Utility District, who resigned from the California Fish and Game Commission several days before a highly contested vote on marine protected areas (MPAs) for the North Central Coast on August 5, was appointed to serve as task force chair.
 
These four new members join four others who have previous MLPA Task Force "experience" including William W. Anderson, President, Westrec Marina Management, Inc.; Meg Caldwell, Director and Senior Lecturer on Law, Stanford Law School's Environment and Natural Resources Law and Policy Program; Catherine Reheis-Boyd, Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff, Western States Petroleum Association; and Gregory F. Schem, President and Chief Executive Officer, Harbor Real Estate Group.
 
We have continually stressed that local participation and involvement is key, claimed Chrisman. This diverse and knowledgeable group, that includes local public leaders, will ensure that all interests are heard as the MLPA planning process moves to the north coast."
 
Jim Martin, West Coast Regional Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), disagrees strongly with Chrisman's contention that the group formed to develop MPA alternatives under Schwarzenegger's fast-track MLPA process is "diverse."
 
"While we are pleased that Jimmy Smith, a Humboldt County supervisor, was appointed to the BRTF, we can't help noticing that only Mr. Smith is a resident of the region," emphasized Martin. "Once again, outside interests have seized control of our natural resources on the north coast. The fishermen see the 'new' BRTF as being just as stacked against public access as the old ones. We will provide the BRTF with every opportunity to prove us wrong."
 
John Lewallen, environmental leader and co-founder of the grassroots "Seaweed Rebellion," was particularly critical of the Governor's choice of Cathy Reheis Boyd, an oil industry lobbyist, for a panel that is supposedly "protecting" the North Coast.
 
"Catherine Reheis-Boyd was elected President of the Western States Petroleum Association this October," said Lewallen. "She served on the Blue Ribbon Task Force that imposed Marine Protected Areas around Point Arena which, if accepted by Californians, will run independent fishermen out and pave the way for offshore oil facilities. The Point Arena Basin is a major oil industry offshore drilling target, and the process of leasing it for drilling is open and on track."
 
He also blasted the inordinate control that a private corporation, the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation that funds the initiative, has exerted over the MLPA process. "A shadowy group called the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation has taken over the process of setting up Marine Protected Areas, and is moving to finance and control fisheries law enforcement and the making of all fisheries regulations," said Lewallen. "The sooner Californians unite to stop the private takeover of Californias fisheries management, the better."
 
The Governor has for the first time appointed a tribal representative, Roberta Cordero, to the MLPA panel, but fishermen, environmentalists and North Coast Indian Tribes are puzzled why no local Indian Tribes such as the Yurok Tribe, the largest tribe in California, have been appointed to the task force.
 
The eight-member BRTF will develop alternative marine protected area proposals along Californias MLPA North Coast Study Region through "scientific analysis and expanded public input," according to Chrisman. They are expected to make recommendations to the Fish and Game Commission late next year.
 
"The panel will work closely with scientists, fishermen, elected officials, conservationists, stakeholders and the public during this process," Chrisman claims. "The task force will also work to develop information and recommendations for coordinating management of marine protected areas with federal agencies, and provide direction for the expenditure of MLPA Initiative funds."
 
The BRTF will hold its first meeting Nov. 18-19 at the Red Lion Hotel, 1929 Fourth Street in Eureka at a time when Schwarzenegger's MLPA process is facing increasing criticism from environmentalists, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen and Indian Tribes throughout the country. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in October passed a strongly worded resolution slamming the MLPA process for failing to recognize the tribal subsistence, ceremonial and cultural rights of California Indian Tribes.
 "The NCAI does hereby support the demand of the tribes of Northern California that the State of California enter into government to government consultations with these tribes; and that the State of California ensure the protection of tribal subsistence, ceremonial and cultural rights in the implementation of the state of Marine Life Protection Act," the resolution stated.