DFG News Release - MLPA News

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Public Workshops Scheduled to Begin MLPA Initiative South Coast Project

SACRAMENTO - Workshops are scheduled this month and next to introduce the public to the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative’s South Coast Project. The overall goals of the workshops are to orient people to the MLPA Initiative process, specifically in the MLPA South Coast Study Region (state waters from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County south to the California border with Mexico, including offshore islands), generate nominations for a regional stakeholder group, invite questions, and solicit input on the process.

“Our goal is to help the state conserve marine life and habitat by designing a network of marine protected areas along the entire coast of California in order to restore a healthy ocean ecosystem,” said Susan Golding, chair of a task force overseeing the planning process. “The public’s participation is vital to our ability to do this successfully.”

The workshops will use an “open house” format where attendees may choose to visit at any time during the three hours and walk through a number of informational stations. Key information stations include an overview of the MLPA Initiative process and timeline; the status of marine protected areas in California; and how the public can get involved. Staff will be available at each station so that attendees may ask questions and provide feedback.

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A second set of workshops are scheduled for:
● Huntington Beach on Tuesday, July 8, 2008: Huntington Beach
Harbor View Club House, 16600 Saybrook Lane, 714-536-5486
● Encinitas on Wednesday, July 9: Facility to be determined
(check the MLPA website at www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa)
● San Diego on Thursday, July 10: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center,
1875 El Prado, 619-238-1233.

All workshop times are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The full release is available at this link:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/news08/mlpa_08003.pdf