Express your outrage at a recent MLPA Initative decision that favors extensive ocean closures in southern California.
It's becoming increasingly evident that the interests of ocean closure advocates are taking precedence in the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) implementation process. It was disclosed last week that proposal "C", the most extreme marine protected areas (MPAs) closure plan for Southern California, was allowed to move forward as one of seven alternatives despite being soundly defeated in voting held at the end of the Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG) meeting held May 19-21, in Santa Ana.

In a reversal of its own guidelines, the MLPA staff allowed seven proposals, of which "C" is one, to move forward to the Blue Ribbon Task Force and the Science Advisory Team for their consideration despite the staff's guidance to the RSG that only six could move forward. Proposal C is supported by the environmental community and garnered the support of less than half the RSG during its straw vote last week. This was a unilateral decision that also compromises the "open and transparent" process in which the RSG has been working in order to fulfill their responsibility as members.

What you can do!

* Send a letter to Chair of the Senate Budget Committee Denise Ducheny asking for support of Senator Dean Florez's efforts to hold an oversight hearing on the MLPA Process.

* Call Senator Ducheny at (916) 651-4040 to request her support for the hearing.

* Attend the next Blue Ribbon Task Force Meeting to voice your concerns and implore the BRTF to reinstate the decision of the RSG.

When: Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. Public comment period for non-agenda items begins at approximately 9:40 a.m.

Where:

Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
6101 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045

The agenda and more information can be found at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings_sc.asp