CAL: Action Alert - Marine Life Act AB1241
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ACTION ALERT
for THE MARINE LIFE MANAGEMENT ACT, AB1241
PLEASE help turn California's obsolete fisheries and marine life
management system into a model among coastal states.
The last hurdle is persuading Governor Pete Wilson to sign it. Please
invest 5 minutes and a $.32 stamp, or you can fax your message. Your
notes to the governor -- as soon as possible -- can make the difference
for the long-term health of California's ocean resources.
This week the Deparatment of Fish and Game asked for changes that would
minimize the value of the bill; the author, Assemblyman Fred Keeley,
has declined to make those changes. But a pile of support letters
that's big enough will persuade the governor to sign AB1241 as one of
his "legacy bills."
All it takes is 2 or 3 sentences. You don't have to know a lot about
the bill, or craft convincing arguments. DO IT BEFORE SEPTEMBER 4, BUT
THE SOONER THE BETTER. Look below for suggestions on what to say, the
governor's address and fax number, and information on the bill.
ADDRESS:
The Honorable Pete Wilson
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
GOVERNOR'S FAX: (916) 445-4633
WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY? Not much. A couple of sentences is enough.
1) Urge the governor to sign AB1241, the Marine Life Management Act.
Put that at the beginning of your note.
2) Add that you are concerned about the health of our marine environment
(or fisheries) as a:
- sport fisherman/woman
- commercial fisherman/woman
- consumer of California seafood (aware that there is less than there
used to be and that most of it now seems to come from Chile, New Zealand,
etc.)
- sport diver
- coastal resident
- marine scientist
- marine conservationist
3) USE YOUR OWN WORDS. Say that you think AB1241 is necessary and long
overdue reform for the management of our fisheries and other marine
life.
If you want, add something more: For example, you don't want more
disasters, such as abalone, in California fisheries; or that you don't
want California fish to go the way of the collapsed fisheries in the
North Atlantic; or say that it's an important piece of legislation and
is urgently needed, and signing it would be something very positive the
governor could do for the state in his last year in office.
4) Say thank you, sign it with your full address, and put it in the
mail or fax it.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO?
Get your family and friends to send separate notes. (More letters are
better than one letter with multiple signers.)
WHO SUPPORTS AB1241?
Sport and commercial fishing organizations, sport divers, marine
scientists and many national and California environmental
organizations, including California League of Conservation Voters,
Center for Marine Conservation, Environmental Defense Fund, Heal the
Bay, National Audubon Society, Natural Resources Defense Council,
Planning and Conservation League, and the Sierra Club of California.
WHAT'S IN AB1241?
California's marine life and fisheries have suffered for decades from
mismanagement and neglect. The system the state uses today is no better
than 50 years ago when the great California sardine fishery collapsed,
and Monterey's Cannery Row became a depressed area. For example,
abalone from San Francisco to the Mexican border have been in decline
for 25 years. The situation became so bad that last year the
legislature finally closed the sport and commercial fisheries for
abalone south of San Francisco.
What's wrong with the current system? The Fish and Game Commission and
the Department of Fish and Game lack the policy guidance, the
authority, the science, and the funding to do an adequate job.
AB 1241 responds to all of those needs:
POLICY -- Establishes the importance of non-consumptive values of the
marine environment. Establishes conservation, restoration, and
sustainable use as the highest priorities for fisheries. We want the
marine life and fisheries resources our grandchildren inherit to be
at least as healthy as they are today. We want commercial fisheries to
remain economically viable, which won't happen unless we manage for
sustainability.
AUTHORITY -- Gets the legislature out of micro-managing fisheries and
gives marine life management authority to the commission and department.
SCIENCE -- Requires science-based management plans for fisheries, with
independent peer review.
FUNDING -- Through the budget process, establishes a multi-year
funding source to accomplish what AB1241 requires of the commission and
department.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Warner Chabot (CMC) 415-391-6204 cmc...@igc.org
Karen Garrison (NRDC) 415-777-0220 kgar...@nrdc.org
Dr. Rod Fujita (EDF) 510-658-8008 r...@edf.org
Burr Heneman 415-868-1460 bu...@igc.org