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

September 21, 2001

Fish & Game Commission
20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100
Monterey, CA 93940

RE: Draft Near Shore Fishery Management Plan

Dear Commission Members:

The Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries (ACSF) is a consortium of marine interests from Pillar Point south to Morro Bay Harbor. Our organization includes representation from all the major fishing associations, recreational fishing, party boat operators, other marine businesses, and harbor management.

The draft Near Shore Fishery Management Plan that has every appearance of being a significant document that will effect our industries in numerous ways. The only comment that the ACSF feels they can make at this time is to formally request an extension on the comment period of at least six months. Not only must this plan as presented be fully considered, and we note that it is many hundreds of pages in length, but also it must be considered in reference to the many other regulatory schemes that are in place or are being actively discussed by other agencies, including the MLPA process. You should know that our organization’s effort to fully consider the draft plan has been hindered by the limited copies of the plan that are available and by the fact that it has been presented during a time in which many of the active fishers are away, fishing.
To enable our industry to give a fair look and consideration of the Fishery Management Plan and to provide to the Fish and Game Commission the kind of information which you need to make wise decisions, as extension of an additional six months time to comment is requested. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Mike Ricketts, Co-Chair, ACSF

Kathy Fosmark, Co-Chair, ACSF

C: Assemblyman Fred Keeley
Bill Douros, Sanctuary Superintendent

Supporting Associations & Organizations
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association
Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Monterey Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Fishermen’s Association of Moss Landing
Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Pillar Point Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Fishermen’s Alliance
Western Fish Boat Owners Association
Ventura County Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters
Port San Luis
Morro Bay Harbor
Monterey Harbor
Moss Landing Harbor
Santa Cruz Harbor
Pillar Pt. Harbor