Aliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries
P O Box 1309, Carmel Valley, CA 93924 (831) 659-2838

June 12, 2001

Dear Member of the California State Legislature:

The Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries (ACSF) has been formed in Central California to better represent commercial and recreational fishers to the State of California and to the National Marine Sanctuary Program regarding fishing issues.

The ACSF is currently working in a positive and cooperative way with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in evaluating marine-protected areas and specifically marine reserves in our Sanctuary waters. One of the immediate issues that we are working on is the fact that the requirements of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) as tasked by the State Legislature (AB993, Shelly) creates certain rigid timelines for the advancement of the ?? of the bill. In our opinion this timeline is artificially rushed. More time needs to be allowed for scope meetings and work such as that being done by the ACSF on marine reserves if full acceptance of the bill is going to be realized.

As a member of the California Legislature we urge you to take action and support efforts to provide more time for the development and implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mike Ricketts, Co-Chair, ACSF

Kathy Fosmark, Co-Chair, ACSF