Marine Life Protection Act Unresolved Feasibility Issues for the Regional Stakeholder Group Revised North Coast Marine Protected Area Proposal Presentation to the Fish and Game Commission April 7, 2010 Folsom, CA Department of Fish and Game

Unresolved Feasibility Issues Marine Protected Area (MPA) Boundaries Improper MPA Designation Naming Convention for MPAs and Special Closures Permissive Take Regulations Revised North Coast Proposal (RNCP)

MPA Boundaries - Pyramid Point SMCA RNCP Solution to Meet Department Guidelines Issue: Southern boundary splits an easily-accessible beach; landmarks available nearby Option: Move southern boundary ~1/3 mile to northern tip of Prince Island

MPA Boundaries - South Humboldt Bay SMRMA RNCP Option to Meet Department Guidelines Issue: “Floating corners” are problematic inside contained bodies of waters (estuaries) Option: Site boundaries on visible landmarks College of the Redwoods Exit

MPA Boundaries - Sea Lion Gulch SMR RNCP Solution to Meet Department Guidelines Issue: Recognizable landmarks are the preferred boundary in areas with shore- based users Option: Move northern boundary ~1 mile north to align with lighthouse and southern boundary ~1/2 mile north to Cooskie creek College of the Redwoods Exit Cooskie Creek Punta Gorda Lighthouse

MPA Boundaries - Skip Wollenburg/Ten Mile SMCA RNCP Solution to Meet Department Guidelines Issue: Boundary splits a beach when landmarks are nearby Option: Move southern boundary south ~ ¾ mile to the mouth of Inglenook Creek Inglenook Creek

Issue: Eastern boundary not on landmark or simple coordinates. Simple coordinates should be used when landmarks are unavailable. But: The boundary was placed where State Park land (brown) includes the river, to avoid overlap. MPA Boundaries – Big River SMP RNCP Solutions to Meet Department Guidelines 123° 46.00” Option 1: Move eastern boundary east to simple coordinate (nearest whole minute) Option 2: Retain boundary to avoid overlap with State Parks land 123° 46.00”

MPA Designation Issue – Big River SMP Previous Commission guidance: Designate as SMRMA when waterfowl hunting may occurs Option: Re-designate MPA from an SMP to a SMRMA RNCP

Naming Conventions – MPAs Feasibility Guideline: Name MPAs for the geographic location, not after individuals or groups  Skip Wollenburg/Ten Mile River SMR  Skip Wollenburg/Ten Mile State Marine Conservation area (SMCA)  Skip Wollenburg/Ten Mile SMCA Solution: Retain geographic name only

Naming Conventions – Special Closures Guidance: Use consistent naming conventions throughout the State  False Klamath Rock Seasonal Special Closure  Steamboat Rock Seasonal Special Closure  Rockport Rocks Seasonal Special Closure  Vizcaino Seasonal Special Closure Solution: Remove “Seasonal” from name closures

Permissive Take Regulations Take allowances result in lower level of ecological protection  Big River SMP  Navarro River SMRMA Solutions: Improve level of protection by  Big River SMP: Removing surfperch by hook and line gear from shore  Navarro River SMRMA: Removing take of salmon by hook and line gear

Summary: Request for Commission Guidance Guidance on options for unresolved feasibility concerns:  MPA boundaries (5 MPAs)  MPA designation (1 MPAs)  MPA naming conventions (3 MPAs)  Special closure naming conventions (4 special closures)  Permissive take (2 MPAs)

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Blue Ribbon Task Force Final Motions Commission received seven BRTF motions: 1)Forward RSG’s RNCP * 2)Forward BRTF’s Enhanced Compliance Alternative (ECA) 3)Incorporate tribal uses into MPAs * 4)Establish MPA co-management with California tribes/communities 5)Add recreational take of Pacific lamprey and eulachon to appropriate estuarine MPAs 6)Retain three existing MPAs per State Parks recommendation 7)Change designation of Ten Mile SMRMA and Navarro River SMRMA to an SMR and a SMCA, respectively  Commission has only provided guidance on #1 and #3 to date

BRTF Motion #6 - Existing MPAs MacKerricher SMCA Russian Gulch SMCA Van Damme SMCA *Existing MPAs in dark blue; modified MPAs to meet DFG feasibility guidelines in light-transparent blue. Motion to retain with more feasible boundaries

Take Options - California Tribes & Tribal Communities Option 1: Nearshore Ribbons Option 2: State Parks Cultural Preservation Designation

Take Options - California Tribes & Tribal Communities Option 1- Nearshore Ribbons Example: Samoa State Marine Conservation Area

Special Closure Access Options – California Tribes & Tribal Communities Special closure access options  Option 1: Possibly use State Parks Cultural Preservation Designation  Option 2: Revise the regulation to allow only seasonal access to everyone  Option 3: Revise the regulation to apply to everyone, or do not adopt a special closure