VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE ECOTRUST SOUTH COAST MLPA SURVEY

[Tman]

Don't know if I'm hard-core enough there Paul...

Bring on the survey...

[Dan]

Done...

Paul. Could you comment on this release from a couple of days ago?

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/scproject.asp

Should we all nominate you?? Help us out on this one please.

[PAL]

Done...

Paul. Could you comment on this release from a couple of days ago?

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/scproject.asp

Should we all nominate you?? Help us out on this one please.

Thanks Dan for your vote of confidence. The work we've done to this point has my name on the short list for a spot on the Regional Stakeholder's Group as the kayak fishing community representative. My nomination letter is in the works.

BUT - I'm looking for widespread help to get me there. In the next few days we'll have sample letters as well as names, email and physical addresses for letters of support. It is important we not give the state or any other user group an excuse to lock kayak anglers out of the process.

Thanks to everyone who has signed up for the Ecotrust Survey, and those who will in the near future. Our cooperation has won us important concesssions in the design and direction of the survey. At this point kayak anglers lead all other user groups in sign-ups. We should; we are the most vulnerable to poorly placed reserves.

Paul

[lambadmin]

Paul, I'm not sure if you're going to win The Post Of The Month, but you got the front page.

Thanks for all your hard work!!!

[dsafety]

I am new to kayak fishing and frankly, don't yet know where most of the best locations are. I would hate to think that my rookie status makes my desire to retain access less important.

Since I am new to this thing, maybe someone can explain it to me. Kayak fishers are about as green as it gets. Sure I burn some gas in my SUV driving to the launch site but after that, I have a nearly zero carbon footprint.

When I paddle out, (in my case peddle out), I am just buring fat and helping to keep myself out of the emergency room with a heart attack or one of the many other illnesses associated with our overweight society.

When I get on the water, I use no fuel except for what was in my recent breakfast. I burn only calories and leave behind only sweat. I catch my own bait and only use only what I need. If I am fortunate enough to catch something other than bait, I usually release it after saying hello and taking a picture. How can this activity be bad for our environment.

Rather than making our coastal waters off limits to people like me and you, maybe we should do more to encourage catch and release practices for recreational fishers. If we need to limit the catch, put the breaks on commercial fishing in the endangered locations.

What do you think?

Bob

[Matt]

Just signed up Paul, let me know where I can help and what to do!!!

[PAL]

I am new to kayak fishing and frankly, don't yet know where most of the best locations are. I would hate to think that my rookie status makes my desire to retain access less important.

Not at all Bob - your desire is every bit as important. And there's nothing keeping you from signing up, although as you say you don't know the best locations, maybe this is a time to give your survey spot to someone else. While there is no limit to the number of volunteers, the number of kayak anglers Ecotrust will survey will add up to 50 or 100 or so. That's not many to go on.

Experience and the skill it develops play more of a role on the waters accessed by a particular kayak angler than they do for boaters or shore and pier anglers. Many inexperineced kayak anglers stick to the bays or water in close proximity to launch sites until they gain confidence. As a matter of policy, the KFACA is committed to preserve the full spectrum of kayak fishing opportunities. Open ocean access is threatened much more so than sheltered water, hence the importance of motivating the most experienced among us.

I welcome further discussion of this issue.

Rather than making our coastal waters off limits to people like me and you, maybe we should do more to encourage catch and release practices for recreational fishers. If we need to limit the catch, put the breaks on commercial fishing in the endangered locations.

Bob, I think most of us feel that way. I do. However, the MLPA is not part of traditional fisheries management. It is a habitat protection plan, altogether separate, and something we must deal with as best we can. To me, that means participating in the process. If we walk away, we'll have our worst nightmares shoved down our throats.

BTW, you can be sure we're arguing the same points you bring up about a lighter footprint. You obviously care deeply; I hope we'll see you at a future workshop or meeting, giving polite but impassioned testimony.