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The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans Announces Marine Resources Protection Plan: California’s Recreational Fishermen and Boaters Outline Conservation Alternative to Facilitate the MLPA Initiative Process

Sacramento, CA, (11/02/07)—Protecting California’s ocean health is possible without unnecessary closures to recreational fishing and boating according to the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans.

The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans, whose members include the American Sportfishing Association, Coastside Fishing Club, Southern California Marine Association, Sportfishing Association of California, United Anglers of Southern California, National Marine Manufacturers Association and Northern CA Kayak Anglers, jointly submitted their Marine Resources Protection Plan to the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Regional Stakeholder Group for their consideration. The Plan will ultimately be reviewed by the California Fish and Game Commission. 

The Partnership’s plan is flexible enough to adjust to future environmental considerations while preventing unnecessary closures of California’s coastal waters to recreational fishing. A copy of the Plan is posted at www.keepamericafishing.org/california_proposal.asp.

“This is an ocean conservation plan based on sound science and is evidence that we are working in good faith within the Marine Life Protection Initiative (MLPA) process,” said Bob Franko, Coastside Fishing Club, one of the largest groups representing individual recreational fishermen. “The Partnership has assembled and submitted a plan that will provide guidance to decision makers and addresses the requirements of the MLPA Initiative process as mandated by current law.”

“We are actively and constructively engaged in this process, “said Patty Doerr, Ocean Resource Policy Director, American Sportfishing Association. “We have submitted a plan that will allow conservation and protection of our ocean resources now and into the future while still allowing for continued recreational fishing.”

Recently released Field Research survey data exploring California’s public and recreational anglers’ attitudes towards the threats facing the ocean and implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) can be found at http://www.keepamericafishing.org/surveys.html, or by contacting Mark DiCamillo, senior vice president, Field Research Corporation at (415-392-5763), fax (415-434-2541) and e-mail markd@field.com.

Contacts
Daniel Kramer or Susan Bitar, coalition spokespersons, can be reached via phone (916-932-7370), fax (916-932-7371) and e-mail
dan@kpastrategies.com and susan@kpastrategies.com.

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The Partnership for Sustainable Oceans (PSO) includes the American Sportfishing Association, Berkley Conservation Institute, Coastside Fishing Club, Contributing Members of the Avalon Tuna Club, International Game Fish Association, Kayak Fishing Association of California, National Marine Manufacturers Association, Nor-Cal Kayak Anglers, Shimano Sport Fisheries Initiative, Southern California Marine Association, the Sportfishing Association of California, United Anglers of Southern California and the Watermen’s Alliance .