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Mike Chrisman Denies Extension for North Coast MLPA Proposal

by Dan Bacher

December 31, 2009 -- Mike Chrisman, the California Secretary for Natural Resources, has denied a request by a Tri-County group for more time to draft marine reserves for the North Coast under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process.
 
Chrisman rejected the request, sent by Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District Commissioner Pat Higgins on behalf of the North Coast Local Interest MPA Workgroup, because he felt that an additional extension of the deadline is "unnecessary at this time."
 
In a December 24 letter, Chrisman claimed that the North Coast community has more scientific data "readily available" at this time than any of the three previous study regions in the MLPA process.
 
"While I understand your concerns and have thoroughly considered the points you raised regarding the timeline and and availability of information, I am confident that given that all that is available to you now, the current timeline provides ample opportunity for your group to submit a quality first-round draft array," said Chrisman.
 
Chrisman also pointed out that a six week extension had already been provided, based on conversations with MLPA Initiative Director Ken Wiseman, Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) and Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa). This extension "balanced the needs of north coast stakeholders and the memorandum of understanding that guides the MLPA Initiative," according to Chrisman.
 
Higgins was not surprised by Chrisman's denial of the group's request. "I sent the reasonable request on behalf of North Coast communities and their representatives that are involved in external array design, but I personally did not expect an affirmative response given his prior reaction to other correspondence from governments and tribes of the region," said Higgins.
 
"Our Tri-County Working Group will proceed to assemble a credible Marine Protected Area array design for the North Coast that will be scientifically valid and economically and socially acceptable by the February 1 deadline," said Higgins. "We are working with the North Coast Scientific Advisory Team (SAT) to allow flexibility in guidelines for fewer large MPAs that we believe will better meet conservation objectives and not unduly constrain sustainable commercial and sport fishing or Native American gathering."
 
In Higgins' December 18 letter, he asked Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman to extend the deadline for the submittal of North Coast "external array proposals" for MPAs to March 15. "We need the additional time because the bottom topography data used to conduct a scientifically valid MPA array won't be available until January 15 at the earliest," the letter stated.
 
A broad coalition of recreational and commercial fishermen, environmentalists, Indian Tribes and seaweed gatherers has criticized the MLPA process for being rife with mission creep, conflicts of interests, questionable "science," and corruption of the democratic process. Many on the North Coast have accused the MLPA initiative for amounting to a privatization of public trust ocean resources, since the supposedly public process is funded and directed by a private corporation, the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation.
 
Atta P. Stephenson, a traditional North Coast tribal seaweed harvester who was honored by Organic Sacramento and Friends of the River on December 10 for her many efforts on behalf on environmental water justice, has strongly criticized the fast-track MLPA process for violating traditional tribe seaweed gathering and fishing rights.
 
"The MLPA process has railroaded communities and tribes in southern and central California and now has come to the North Coast," said Stephenson at the Organic Capital Celebration of Sustainability in Sacramento. "The state is calling areas where we traditionally harvested seaweed 'no take' zones where seaweed harvesting will no longer be allowed."
 
The denial of Higgins' extension request occurs at a time that Barbara and John Stephens-Lewallen, owners of the Mendocino Sea Vegetable Company and well-respected North Coast environmental leaders, are organizing a statewide organization to "expose and oppose privatization of California public fisheries management," while at the same time supporting the work of seafood providers in the MLPA process (http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/12/23/18633503.php).
 
"In consultation with seafood providers, we invite people to join the Public Ocean Access Network, a network of individuals and independent groups with no officers, committed to stopping the MLPAI and ending privatization of California fisheries management, using legal and nonviolent means," said the Lewallens in their call to action. "We stand against the violence of the MLPAI, violence to community interests, democratic principles, and scientific knowledge."
 
To announce your membership in the Public Ocean Fisheries Network, or to get Network messages, contact: oceannetwork@ mcn.org.