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Here is a quote from the Calif Dept of Fish and Wildlife regarding the law they are dealing with.
"The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) directs the state to reevaluate and redesign California’s system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to: increase coherence and effectiveness in protecting the state's marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems, and marine natural heritage, as well as to improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems subject to minimal human disturbance."
Bad law from our standpoint, because it includes a stipulation against human "disturbance" under which ANY fishing could be characterized.
All it takes for us to end up in the same place is a ballot question sold to the non-fishing public as a vote to "protect nature". Since the public in general wants to feel good about protecting the planet, voting for something like this is a feel good opportunity and it would likely pass.
If recreational and commercial fisherman continue to insist on maximal utilization fishing.......as they do now and undoubtedly will continue to do.....it will be a very easy sell to the general public asking them to shut us down for the "good of nature". Very easy because it will be correct, sad to say.
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