California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative Announcement
Who: Interested members of the public

What: Invitation to review and comment on the Draft Guidelines to Assist Stakeholders in Addressing Goal 3 of the Marine Life Protection Act in the MLPA North Coast Study Region.

When: Comments are requested no later than Thursday, May 13, 2010

Where: The document is available in three ways:
1. Online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/goal3.asp
2. Electronically as an attachment to this email
3. In print copy by contacting the MLPA Initiative office ([email protected] or 916.654.1885)

How: Submit comments in one of the following ways by May 13, 2010:
1. Email [email protected]
Subject: Comments on Goal 3 guidance document
2. Fax to 916.653.8102 (Attention: MLPA Initiative)
3. Postal service to MLPA Initiative
c/o California Natural Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814

Additional Details
The California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative has recently assessed the guidance and evaluation methods for addressing Goal 3 of the MLPA in the MLPA North Coast Study Region:

Goal 3: To improve recreational, educational, and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems that are subject to minimal human disturbance, and to manage these uses in a manner consistent with protecting biodiversity. (California Fish and Game Code, Section 2853)

Staff considered lessons learned from previous study regions in an effort to better align the Goal 3 evaluation with evaluations conducted by two state agencies, the California Department of Fish and Game and the California Department of Parks and Recreation. As a result of this assessment, staff has produced a Goal 3 guidance document (see attached) that outlines the key considerations when designing marine protected areas relative to Goal 3 and the expected evaluation approach. The guidance is not inconsistent with how Goal 3 has been addressed in previous study regions; it describes important elements of Goal 3 and clarifies how to address all the components of the goal in marine protected area planning.

North coast communities and members of the public are invited to review the Goal 3 guidance document and provide feedback. Public comments received by May 13 will be incorporated to the extent possible into a revised version of the guidance document.