Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
After 3 days of extensive meetings and a reported 1500 people showing up to give public comment, the Blue Ribbon Task Force ultimately delayed their vote to choose a preferred alternative network of marine protected areas for the South Coast...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
The task force is passing all three marine protected area options developed by the regional stakeholder group -- the Conservation, Fishing, and Middle-ground proposals -- on to Department of Fish and Game. These proposals will be reviewed as part of...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
Yesterday, the Blue Ribbon Task Force for the Marine Life Protection Act heard the comments of hundreds of South Coast citizens who care passionately about the future of California's oceans. From 9 AM until 11 PM, with just a few...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
California is creating Marine Protected Areas throughout its waters because, if well-designed, they will work to restore our oceans and protect the biological gems of our underwater world. Since 1990, California commercial fishing revenues have decreased by half and the...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
Demonstrating great leadership and positive collaboration, the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) held a special meeting this morning, preceding the San Francisco listening session of President Obama's Interagency Ocean Policy Task force. Accepting and incorporating public testimony into their recommendations...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
With initiatives such as the Marine Protected Areas Monitoring Enterprise, California is creating a model for the use of science in the management of our oceans. The Monitoring Enterprise was created under the umbrella of the California Ocean Science Trust,...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
Yesterday, after almost five hours of public comments from over 100 speakers, the Fish and Game Commission enacted into law the plan for a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) on the North Central Coast of California, as required by...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
After two years of planning, over 50 public meetings, and participation from tens of thousands of Californian's, on August 5, 2009, the Fish & Game Commission will vote to adopt a final plan of protected areas for the North Central...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
A newly released study finds that areas closed to fishing, like the network of marine protected areas and reserves being established under California's Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), are working to help rebuild depleted fisheries in regions around the world....continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
A nationwide poll released this month shows that 95% of U.S. residents support protecting ocean waters and ocean life. The poll showed that 56% of American's support the approach used by California's Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), responding positively to...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
This morning I had the opportunity to participate in the San Francisco release of the 19th annual "Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches," report. NRDC's "Testing the Waters" is an annual survey of beachwater quality...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
Moments ago, the California State Assembly finalized the difficult budget deal while still upholding 40 years of ocean protection precedent by not overturning the will of the State Lands Commission and allowing for new wells to be drilled off Santa...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
NRDC and nearly three dozen California environmental organizations strongly oppose a proposal - included in the latest state budget deal - to allow the first new offshore oil drilling in state waters in over 40 years. The exact details of this...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
Today on the Huffington Post, Lisa Kaas Boyle describes many of the very encouraging trends helping to stem the tide of plastic waste from bottled water. As I wrote in a previous Switchboard post, plastic water bottles contribute significantly to...continued→
Posted by Leila Monroe in Reviving the World's Oceans
Almost a year since I first wrote about the research presented by Fanny Douvere and Bud Ehler on marine spatial planning and management to avoid ocean "sprawl and brawls", this concept is getting attention in mainstream media. CNN's recent article...continued→
