From Sportfishing
Fish Report for 2-3-2010
[MLPA Initiative] Next steps for external MPA arrays
2-3-2010
Melissa Miller-Henson
Who: North Coast External MPA Array Proponents and Interested Members of the Public
What: Memo from MLPA Initiative staff regarding next steps for external MPA arrays developed by north coast community groups (see attached)
Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Thank you for your tremendous efforts to develop and submit external marine protected area (MPA)
arrays for the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) North Coast Study Region. This memo outlines the
next steps for the review and evaluation of external MPA arrays developed by community groups, and
the process for incorporating MPA arrays into Rounds 2 and 3 of the MPA planning process (to view a
process diagram for the MLPA North Coast Study Region visit
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/pdfs/guide_diagram.pdf).
Submitted external MPA arrays will be initially reviewed by MLPA staff for completeness; if errors are
found or questions arise during this preliminary review, staff will contact the array's proponent to clarify.
Following initial review and possible clarifications, all complete external MPA arrays will be evaluated
by the MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team (SAT), California Department of Fish and Game
(DFG), California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) and MLPA Initiative staff. The
MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) will also review these external MPA arrays, and the public will
have the opportunity to review and comment.
The MLPA North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (NCRSG), with input from the SAT, BRTF, DFG,
State Parks, staff and the public, is charged with the task of developing the next iteration of MPA
proposals. The NCRSG will be asked to learn from and build off the external arrays and their
evaluations, and to draw on input from the BRTF and public to begin developing "Round 2" draft MPA
proposals. The NCRSG members will also be able to draw upon MPA ideas that are submitted (these
individual MPA ideas or shapes are not considered full arrays and therefore are not formally evaluated)
as they develop MPA proposals. The external MPA arrays will form the basis for MPA proposals
developed by the NCRSG and therefore will not be carried through the MPA planning process as standalone
MPA proposals; however they will continue to be available as sources of information throughout
the process, as they have in previous study regions.
There will be numerous opportunities for community groups and interested members of the public to
continue contributing their knowledge and ideas to the north coast MPA planning process:
• Engage in direct communication with individual NCRSG members. The list of NCRSG members and their affiliations is below and can also be found online (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/ncproject.asp#members)
• Attend meetings and open houses in person, or watch archived videos online (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings_n.asp)
• Submit verbal or written comments to MLPA Initiative groups (BRTF, SAT or NCRSG)
• Provide feedback on documents for public comment.
• Continue interacting with and providing ideas to MLPA Initiative staff
Once again, we thank you for contributing your valuable local knowledge to help build a strong foundation from which the NCRSG can work to develop MPA proposals for the north coast study region
< Previous Report Next Report >
More Reports
2-2-2010
California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Announcement Who: MLPA Master Plan Science Advisory Team What: Fourth meeting for...... Read More
California Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Friday, January 29th, 2010• [MLPA Initiative] NCRSG members announced
• CDFG News Release - MLPA North Coast Regional Stakeholder Group
Website Hosting and Design provided by TECK.net