Marine Life Protection Act

Unresolved Feasibility Issues for the

Regional Stakeholder Group

Revised North Coast Marine Protected Area Proposal

Presentation to the Fish and Game Commission

April 7, 2010 • Folsom, CA

Department of Fish and Game

Unresolved Feasibility Issues

• Marine Protected Area (MPA) Boundaries

• Improper MPA Designation

• Naming Convention for MPAs and Special Closures

• Permissive Take Regulations

Revised North Coast Proposal (RNCP)

MPA Boundaries - Pyramid Point SMCA

RNCPSolution to Meet

Department Guidelines

Issue: Southern boundary splits an easily-accessible beach; landmarks available nearby

Option: Move southern boundary ~1/3 mile to northern tip of Prince Island

MPA Boundaries - South Humboldt Bay SMRMA

RNCPOption to Meet

Department Guidelines

Issue: “Floating corners” are problematic inside contained bodies of waters (estuaries)

Option: Site boundaries on visible landmarks

College of the Redwoods Exit

MPA Boundaries - Sea Lion Gulch SMR

RNCPSolution to Meet

Department Guidelines

Issue: Recognizable landmarks are the preferred boundary in areas with shore-based users

Option: Move northern boundary ~1 mile north to align with lighthouse and southern boundary ~1/2 mile north to Cooskie creek

College of the Redwoods Exit

Cooskie Creek

Punta Gorda Lighthouse

MPA Boundaries - Skip Wollenburg/Ten Mile SMCA

RNCPSolution to Meet

Department Guidelines

Issue: Boundary splits a beach when landmarks are nearby

Option: Move southern boundary south ~ ¾ mile to the mouth of Inglenook Creek

Inglenook Creek

Issue: Eastern boundary not on landmark or simple coordinates. Simple coordinates should be used when landmarks are unavailable.

But: The boundary was placed where State Park land (brown) includes the river, to avoid overlap.

MPA Boundaries – Big River SMP

RNCPSolutions to Meet

Department Guidelines

123° 46.00”

Option 1: Move eastern boundary east to simple coordinate (nearest whole minute)

Option 2: Retain boundary to avoid overlap with State Parks land

123° 46.00”123° 46.00”

MPA Designation Issue – Big River SMP

• Previous Commission guidance: Designate as SMRMA when waterfowl hunting may occurs

• Option: Re-designate MPA from an SMP to a SMRMA

RNCP

Naming Conventions – MPAs

• Feasibility Guideline: Name MPAs for the geographic location, not after individuals or groups Skip Wollenburg/Ten Mile River SMR

Skip Wollenburg/Ten Mile State Marine Conservation area (SMCA)

Skip Wollenburg/Ten Mile SMCA

• Solution: Retain geographic name only

Naming Conventions – Special Closures

• Guidance: Use consistent naming conventions throughout the State

False Klamath Rock Seasonal Special Closure

Steamboat Rock Seasonal Special Closure

Rockport Rocks Seasonal Special Closure

Vizcaino Seasonal Special Closure

• Solution: Remove “Seasonal” from name closures

Permissive Take Regulations

• Take allowances result in lower level of ecological protection Big River SMP

Navarro River SMRMA

• Solutions: Improve level of protection by

Big River SMP: Removing surfperch by hook and line gear from shore

Navarro River SMRMA: Removing take of salmon by hook and line gear

Summary: Request for Commission Guidance

• Guidance on options for unresolved feasibility concerns: MPA boundaries (5 MPAs) MPA designation (1 MPAs) MPA naming conventions (3 MPAs) Special closure naming conventions (4 special

closures) Permissive take (2 MPAs)

END

Blue Ribbon Task Force Final Motions

• Commission received seven BRTF motions:1) Forward RSG’s RNCP *2) Forward BRTF’s Enhanced Compliance Alternative (ECA) 3) Incorporate tribal uses into MPAs *4) Establish MPA co-management with California

tribes/communities 5) Add recreational take of Pacific lamprey and eulachon to

appropriate estuarine MPAs6) Retain three existing MPAs per State Parks recommendation7) Change designation of Ten Mile SMRMA and Navarro River

SMRMA to an SMR and a SMCA, respectively

Commission has only provided guidance on #1 and #3 to date

BRTF Motion #6 - Existing MPAs

MacKerricher SMCA

Russian Gulch SMCA

Van Damme SMCA

*Existing MPAs in dark blue; modified MPAs to meet DFG feasibility guidelines in light-transparent blue.

Motion to retain with more feasible boundaries

Take Options - California Tribes & Tribal Communities

• Option 1: Nearshore Ribbons

• Option 2: State Parks Cultural Preservation Designation

Take Options - California Tribes & Tribal Communities

• Option 1- Nearshore Ribbons

Example: Samoa State Marine Conservation Area

Special Closure Access Options – California Tribes & Tribal Communities

• Special closure access options

Option 1: Possibly use State Parks Cultural Preservation Designation

Option 2: Revise the regulation to allow only seasonal access to everyone

Option 3: Revise the regulation to apply to everyone, or do not adopt a special closure