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AVALON, CATALINA ISLAND - The below paragraphs deal with some of the highlights I've seen of the California MLPA Initiative for forming MLPAs or Marine Life protection areas, specifically as experienced Oct. 21st, 2009.
On the surface I think the whole idea is wonderful. I have spent my entire 52 years, in, on or under Mother Ocean. In that time I have watched her decline into dismal disrepair. The MLPAs are however only band-aids on a hemophiliac. I believe that it does not matter from which side of this political tug-o-war you are on, you believe something has to be done, but parts of the MLPA processes are not the right answers. The process is probably the best compromise we can get. It starts a system that may keep up our awareness but it seems doubtful due to many unsolved issues.
The parts of this whole process that really upset me are some of the human parts, both sides. I have been ashamed of actions taken in this political debate by pro-commercial interests, pro-recreational, pro-kelp interest and the list goes on and on. This paper cannot print that many pages, nor will you wish to read them. Here are a few glowing issues that Island residents and friends need to know.
Proposal number 3, as proposed, is a slap in the face to all the conservation work that locals and visitors have worked on for more than over 100 years over here. Proposal 3 is backed by the conservation groups, self-called kelp huggers, heal- the- bay people, you get the idea. This group is dead set against proposals number 1 & 2 because they do not go far enough overall for their tastes. Yet proposals numbers 1 & 2 for Catalina Island gives legal recognition to Lovers Cove, the Invertebrate habitat at the West End, protects Cat Harbor and gives legal protection to our Sea Bass pens, and as Bill Bushings article dated October 23rd in the papers shows, a need for better protection in our dive park. Not only do the backers of proposal 3 ignore all these sites, they also have no conscience against using teen and pre-teen children as political cannon fodder.
By noon on Oct. 21st, 2009, I became aware of the extent to which conservation proponents for proposal 3 were willing to go. They bussed children into the meeting, all of whom wore blue proposal 3 t-shirts. A missed school day on our tax dollars. A room full of young minds given only the information that agenda driven adults gave them. As the afternoon wore into evening many of us in attendance were trying to ask these kids why they were there. What were they learning? What did they know of the issues and history of this process? None knew. None could debate at even a rudimentary level.. Some were falling asleep. Most seemed happy to just be out of class.
We as a society cringe at other countries, regimes or leaders using their children as cannon fodder or agents of their wishes. I feel we crossed that line on Oct. 21st, 2009.
If you, the reader wish to become more informed and weigh into this please go to www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa or e-mail MLPAcomments@resources.ca.gov and you can catch up on these very important decisions being made about our future and our resources. If you back either proposal 2 or 3 that is your right, just do it correctly, armed with proper information. Yes it takes effort. Our society takes effort, effort from all.
Rock Gosselin
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