Coastal Voices Guest Editorial: A seat at the MLPA table

I had the same fears when the process came to the North Central Coast region. So I applied for, and was given a spot on the stakeholder group for that region. From the very first day, it was clear that most stakeholders came to the process willing to discuss issues and find common ground. Each and every person who wished to speak had an opportunity to be heard.

The MLPA process in my area will create a network of underwater state parks that will span from San Mateo County to Mendocino.  As a stakeholder, my job was to ensure that the system we created was based on current science and public input, so that it works to restore our vital marine resources without putting local fishermen out of business. 

It was challenging working toward consensus with so many views at the table, and while the final plan we developed may not have been exactly what anyone wanted, it was created with the best interests of all local people in mind. Everyone on our stakeholder group understood the need for better management of the ocean; and by working in the spirit of compromise, we were able to reach an agreement.

I have worked on the California coast supporting research, as well as teaching diving/boating to scientists and students for more than 40 years, the last 26 in the Bodega Bay area. I have spent tens of thousands of hours in the water and intertidal collecting specimens for research, observing animal behavior, and documenting changes in the environment. I have also taught scuba diving and boat handling to faculty, staff and students of local, state and federal agencies, and have met many concerned people who truly care about the environment.

Over the years a lot has changed.  And as far as ocean health is concerned, the news isn’t all good.  I’ve seen red urchin populations in North Central California decline rapidly in the 1990s and yelloweye and canary rockfish numbers plummet since the 1980s. Although urchins are once again sustaining a modest fishery on the Sonoma Coast and some rockfish species are starting to show signs of recovery, California’s oceans deserve better.

We have to take action to ensure the survival of all marine habitats and species. For many species this certainly includes survival in large enough numbers to support sustainable sport and commercial harvesting. We can’t afford to always be on the defense when it comes to healthy marine wildlife and habitat.

It is well documented that marine protected areas and reserves work to restore depleted fisheries and rebuild ocean ecosystems.

Putting a network of strategically selected areas aside as reserves was the right thing to do, so that in the future there will always be bountiful marine life for all to experience when they visit the Sonoma Coast. And, just as importantly, fishermen will always have fish to catch.

So we found creative ways to protect areas of critical biological importance like the Farallon Islands and Point Reyes Headlands and keep favorite fishing spots open. In the Bodega Bay area, it was the fishing community that actually designed the MPAs now included in the compromise plan before the Fish and Game Commission. If adopted, commercial crabbers in our port will still be able to get out and make a living whenever the weather permits.

To be honest, it was a long, challenging process. But thanks to the efforts of all involved, the result is something I am proud of: a science-based compromise plan that reflects the input of many voices. 

The Fish and Game Commission will finalize a plan for this marine protected area system on Aug. 5. As we wrap up the process in the North Central Coast region, the Marine Life Protection Act is moving up the coast. The first North Coast public workshops happened in Eureka, Fort Bragg and Crescent City this month. To help my northern neighbors get a better sense of how the system works, I’m sharing my experience as a stakeholder.

I recommend anyone with an interest in helping to build a prosperous future for the North Coast to get involved in the MLPA process. There is a seat at the table for you.

Henry Fastenau is the diving and boating safety officer for the Bodega Marine Lab, with the University of California at Davis. He sat as a member of the MLPA North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group.