Channelkeeper Asks For Help Protecting SoCal Coast
Public Comment Requested to Keep Plans Alive For Marine Protected Areas
Ocean protection in California needs your help!
Last week, the Fish and Game Commission called for a special meeting on September 29 to discuss delaying the protection of Southern California’s coast in a network of marine protected areas (MPAs).
Southern California’s effort to designate parts of our coast and oceans as protected underwater wilderness areas (Marine Protected Areas) under the Marine Life Protection Act is nearing its final stages. Despite the law’s clear intent as a conservation mandate, the process is in serious jeopardy of failing to offer true conservation benefits as a result of significant opposition from other stakeholder interests. Channelkeeper has been working tirelessly to make sure that conservation interests do not take a backseat in the process to ensure that critical habitats for marine life are protected.
Delaying plans for Southern California could threaten the historic Marine Life Protection Act–one of our state’s most important ocean protection laws that calls for the creation of a statewide network of marine protected areas. Half of this network already exists along the California coast from Point Conception to Point Arena, where MPAs are already working to restore ocean health in breathtaking biodiversity hot spots like the Channel Islands, Point Sur, and Point Reyes.
But it’s up to the Fish and Game Commission to complete the statewide network of protected areas, starting with Southern California. Please send an email or attend the hearing on September 29 in Sacramento to let the Fish and Game Commission know that you support the timely protection of Southern California’s coast.
Click here to send an email to the Fish and Game Commission today asking them to keep plans for protecting Southern California’s coast on track. Please act fast – the Commission will only receive comments this week.
