Remarks of Kathy Fosmark
Monterey City Council Meeting
January 2, 2007 

June 11, 2007

 

Sam Schuchat

Executive Officer

California Ocean Protection Council

1330 Broadway

Oakland, CA 94612

 

Dear Mr. Schuchat,

 

I’m writing on behalf of the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries to request 30 minutes of time of the Ocean Protection Council to hear a 15-minute presentation, with additional time for questions, on a public opinion poll recently sponsored by our organization.  Responsive Management, of Harrisonburg Virginia, conducted this poll, which is attached in its entirety. Responsive Management is a nationally recognized public polling firm.  Eight hundred Californians, representing every county in the State, were asked questions about Californian’s views on resource management issues and about their opinions about recreational and commercial fishing. The poll is scientifically and statistically valid, and we hope the results will be a useful tool to inform the Ocean Protection Council as to the values Californians hold for resource issues.

 

If time is allowed, Mark Duda, president of Responsive Management, would fly to California, to whatever location and meeting time was deemed appropriate by the Council, to present the poll results to the Council. 

 

As you will see, one of the key questions which Californians are asked is: Presuming that most Californians want to protect our ocean resources, what do they mean exactly when they use this term “protect?”  The results are quite relevant to California policy processes, such as the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative.  We hope that the Ocean Protection Council can find time to hear of these important poll results representing the views of California citizens.

 

The Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries is a 501 C-3 educational organization representing about 900 commercial and recreational fishing families, and their communities, in the geographic area of Port San Luis north to Pillar Point Harbor.  The mission statement of the ACSF is attached for your review.

 

Thank you for considering this request.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Kathy Fosmark                                                        

Co-Chair, ACSF                  

CONTINUED