Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries
256 Figueroa Street #1, Monterey, CA 93940
www.alliancefisheries.com

Politically, it appears that our MPA/Ocean Health Plan never had a chance.  We have been largely treated like our efforts to provide fresh, sustainable seafood for an eager public are evil.  The truth is, the livelihoods of generations of California fishing families depend on a healthy ocean.

We accepted Leon Panetta’s challenge to be part of the solution. However, it appears that the Fish and Game Commission was pressured to adopt a network of MPAs that takes away the most productive fishing areas.  This will put many local fishing families out of business, with community/tourism impacts.  The political pressure was so blatant that Michael Flores, President of the Fish and Game Commission, told National Public Radio that “the Governor’s re-election bid seems to have taken center stage over implementing the best policy for fishermen and the coast.”

The Monterey and the Central Coast fishing industry is on the verge of a needless collapse, in part due to large environmental organizations identifying some of the most productive fishing areas and demanding that they become MPAs.  This is what happened in the MLPA process, and it has now become a gubernatorial campaign issue. We believe that this tactic abuses the positive medicine that MPAs can be and abuses the law.

We urge the big environmental organizations to think about this issue a little harder, and hope that the Commission and the Governor will not cause needless environmental and economic harm. Let’s listen to our doctors and work together to prescribe the right doses of the right medicines to improve the health of our oceans. 

For more information about the CFC’s scientific review visit www.cafisheriescoalition.org.

 

Kathy Fosmark is co-chairman of the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries in Monterey and represents California on the Pacific Fishery Management Council.

David Crabbe is a Monterey squid fisherman and vice president of the California Wetfish Producers Association.

Kathy and David are both members of the California Fisheries Coalition (CFC) representing 23 ocean-dependent recreational and commercial fishing associations, seafood processors, abalone growers, kelp harvesters and coastal communities, contributing $5.5 billion annually to California’s economy. Coalition membership encompasses more than 14,000 commercial fishermen, in excess of 4,000 fishing vessels, several million recreational anglers and more than 200 seafood companies. Approximately 172,000 people are employed by CFC partner businesses.