Commission meeting will feature MLPA update, salmon regs

by Dan Bacher

The California Fish and Game Commission will discuss the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative on the North Coast, recreational salmon fishing regulations for the Klamath-Trinity River system and recreational salmon fishing regulations for the Sacramento River and tributaries during its meeting in Folsom April 6 and 7.

The meeting will be held at the Lake Natoma Inn, 702 Gold Lake Drive, Sierra Ballroom, Folsom.

On Thursday, April 7 at 9:30 am, John Laird, Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency is scheduled to provide an update (item 15A) regarding North Coast marine protected areas under the MLPA Initiative.

That will be followed by an update (item 15B) on the Department Fish and Game (DFG) feasibility analysis regarding North Coast marine protected areas under the MLPA Initiative.

The commission, in a special hearing on February 2, directed the DFG to develop a revised marine protected area network proposal for the North Coast Study Region, based on and consistent with the Unified North Coast proposal from the RSG (Regional Stakeholders Group and BRTF (Blue Ribbon Task Force), that accommodates the stakeholders’ expressed intent to allow for traditional, non-commercial subsistence, ceremonial, cultural and stewardship uses by Tribal people.

“There is no evidence that tribes have had a negative impact upon the ecosystem,” said Thomas O’Rourke, Chair of the Yurok Tribal Council. “They have been part of the ecosystem since time immemorial. Science needs to recognize people as part of the ecosystem. If you don’t include people, the proposal will fail. Our rights are not negotiable.”

Tribal members at the hearing indicated they were willing to engage in civil disobedience if tribal rights weren’t protected. “When grandma wants mussels, it will take a lot more than Wild Justice to prevent me from doing this,” quipped Sammy Gensaw Jr., Yurok Tribal Member. (http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/03/08/18674116.php)

Since the joint meeting, Secretary Laird’s staff has been working with staff and attorneys from DFG, California State Parks, the California Attorney General’s office, the MLPA Initiative and a number of the North Coast Tribes to identify a potential administrative solution to allowing traditional tribal gathering within marine protected areas. "Those discussions are ongoing and an update is expected at the commission’s April meeting," according to the MLPA Initiative North Coast News: Issue 9.

In a related matter, Dr. Jeanine Pfeiffer et. all, will present a tribal harvesting paper, entitled "Native Science, Harvesting and Conservation," to the Commission on Wednesday, April 6. Wednesday's meeting starts at 10 a.m.

On Thursday, the Fish and Game Commission will also receive public testimony on proposed changes to Klamath-Trinity sport fishing regulations for the upcoming salmon season. Following the testimony on the Klamath-Trinity regulations, the Commission will hear public testimony on proposed changes to the Central Valley sport fishing regulations for the upcoming salmon season.

That will be followed by the receipt of public testimony on proposed changes for ocean salmon sport fishing regulations.

The adoption hearing for the Klamath/Trinity, Central Valley and ocean sport fishing regulations is scheduled for April 21, 2011, at a special teleconference meeting.

Also of note: One of the items to be discussed in a closed executive session on April 6 is the lawsuit by United Anglers of Southern California, Coastside Fishing Club and Robert C. Fletcher against the Fish and Game Commission regarding the South Coast and North Central Coast marine protected areas under the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative.

For more information on the two day meeting, contact the California Fish and Game Commission, 916-653-4899, http://www.fgc.ca.gov