County eyes a regional approach for MPAs

Some North Coast interests are trying to band together to propose marine protected areas that fulfill state requirements while trying to retain the most fishing areas.

The process of creating marine protected areas is occurring all along the California coast. It includes an option that allows MPA proposals to be submitted by individuals and groups outside of the official process.

Part of the official process is forming a Science Advisory Team (SAT) and a Regional Stakeholder Group, both of which will be responsible for developing a proposal for the location and types of  MPAs along the North Coast.

External proposals for potential MPAs are developed by individuals and groups outside of the SAT or stakeholder group.

Local fisheries biologist Zach Larson is contracting with Del Norte County to spearhead the effort of creating a unified North Coast external proposal before the Feb. 1 deadline.

“It’s challenging, because we really have very little time,” Larson said. “Despite that, things are moving along and there has been a ton of cooperation from the different communities that make up the North Coast study region.”

But time is running out.

To be able to submit an external proposal, the county and any other interested North Coast community, organization or individual must have an intent-to-submit form to the MLPA Initiative by Thursday.

Larson said that this means all the communities that want to be part of the North Coast’s external proposal process, must send their own intent-to-submit forms.

“Due to the tremendous amount of coordination that is necessary between all the various players, each community needs to put in their own intent-to-submit,” Larson said.

Despite that, Larson said the ultimate goal is to have one external proposal for the whole North Coast that each community signs off on.

“A lot is unresolved at this point,” Larson said, referring to the ongoing public outreach and tri-county coordination effort. “But we are trying to get a good cross-section of each community involved.”

Larson said that Del Norte is a little ahead of the game.

“We are a small county, which makes it easier,” Larson said. “We already have a a Del Norte County MLPA Work Group.”

Larson said that Mendocino County just formed a similar group to help with the coordination process.

“The idea is one proposal,” Larson said.

 The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors will consider whether to approve an intent-to-submit when it meets today.

According to a board press release, the goal is to develop a proposal that is consistent with the MLPA requirements and still “palatable to the local community.”

Three types of MPAs could be established on the North Coast.

The three levels of protection are primarily based on the severity of the take limit. From least restrictive to most, they include marine conservation areas, marine parks, and marine reserves (which would be no-take areas).

“Part of my job is to provide public outreach and education,” Larson said. “I have been to all the different meetings and training sessions, I’m becoming an expert on MarineMap (the MLPA Initiative’s on-line mapping tool).”

Larson said that the public outreach portion of his job is very important and like a two-way street.

“We are working with resource extractors and users,” Larson said. “The public outreach will have an effect on what sort of proposal we end up submitting.”