Having sat through several of the South Coast MLPA meetings, I’m feeling drained.  Countless hours of sitting through public testimony, hearing extremists fabricate stereotypical untruths on how fishing is totally devastated along our coast, and trying to keep up with SAT guidelines (none of which would be given ample time to be properly disputed, even by those on their own team).  By the end of it, my brain was feeling like scrambled eggs.  But I’m sure my participation is nothing compared to the sacrifice of those who served on the Regional Stakeholders Group.  Paul Lebowitz was one of those stakeholders and he represented the public’s fishing interests–read his lastest blog post on Western Outdoor News.  Here’s a sobering snippet:

What else should we expect when private money funds public policy? The MLPAI staff served their paymasters rather than the people of the state. The MLPA law itself would not be the problem if it were enforced as written. It’s supposed to cost the state $250,000 a year, not $25 million or more. Point the finger at those who hijacked it.

Fishermen are not against conservation.  We will adhere to the creation of marine protected areas along California’s coast but not at the expense of being categorically ignored and marginalized throughout the process.  Fishermen were behind the eight-ball from the start due to the private funding and the benefactor’s set agenda.  It’s this unlevel playing field based on money and politics which infuriates fishermen.

Robert Montgomery of ESPNOutdoors recently wrote an article on the outcome of the BRTF decision.  He also echoes the sentiments of distrust and one-sidedness fishermen felt throughout this whole affair:

Under the generally benevolent goal of protecting our oceans, environmental/preservation groups, with friends in high places, push for closures that would deny access to sports anglers, who traditionally are some of the nation’s best stewards and conservationists.

With acts like those of BRTF board member Meg Caldwell who successfully lobbied to overturn a decision to leave an extreme and unpopular map off the list of the RSG’s recommendations to move forward, and Governor Schwarzenegger stacking the deck in the North Central Fish & Game Commission vote by appointing BRTF chair Don Benninghoven the day before the decision was to occur, there should be no question why things have turned out the way they have.

But even with the bleak outlook, the fight must continue.  The “hi-jacked” MLPA process provides a fantastic opportunity for extremists to twist the truth and blindly push their agendas without considering the middle ground.  People still have a chance to express their concerns and to bring the public back into “public policy”.  Send your commennts to the Fish & Game Commission at fgc@fgc.ca.gov.

Final public comment will be heard by the FGC on Dec. 9th at the Radisson Hotel – LAX at 6225 W. Centurly Blvd.  Visit the DFG’s MLPA South Coast meeting page for the latest updates on the meeting agenda.