Anglers and coastal protection

It's a tried and true formula: Government works best when citizens are directly involved in an initiative. Whether addressing education or transportation planning, government is most beneficial when policymakers roll up their sleeves next to citizens and make decisions together.

California's recreational fishermen are employing this collaborative philosophy in working with state and environmental officials on managing the state's coastal waters. The groups share the same goal of protecting the health of California's ocean without unnecessary closures of state coastal waters to recreational fishing.

For many Californians, sportfishing off the state's coast is a rite of passage. Anglers can vividly recall the first time they ventured out onto the Pacific in search of a catch. The memories are full of rich emotion and peace with nature.

But this rite of passage has come into question as Californians work to manage the state's coastal waters via the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), legislation passed in 1999 to "sustain, conserve and protect" California's marine resources. In some cases, the MLPA has been used to effectively shut down recreational fishing access.

The state has had starts and stops implementing the MLPA. However, in April, the MLPA was used to close 85 square miles -- total closure to all sportfishing off the central coast. Furthermore, sportfishing has now been closed off the coast of the Channel Islands, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is leading the effort to establish a series of protected areas off limits to fishing for the entire continental West Coast.

The legislation creating the MLPA gives little attention to the economics of sportfishing and the communities that depend on it.

At $225 million, California earns more state tax revenues from recreational fishing than any other state. At $2.6 billion, recreational fishing retail sales are equivalent to the value of the state's grape harvest.

Additionally, sportfishing supports more than 15,000 jobs in the state, generates more than $21 million in state income taxes and pays about $445 million in salaries and wages.

The state's 900,000 recreational fishermen are stewards of the environment and advocates for sustainable fishing and conservation. Recreational fishermen and the public share concerns for the conservation and protection of fish species and the ocean for today and future generations -- after all, the ocean is their livelihood and lifeblood.

Recreational fishermen are interested in the recreational aspects of fishing and generally leave a minimal environmental footprint. They do not use equipment or fishing methods such as gill nets and long lines that damage the environment. Recreational fishermen are also already subject to stringent regulation and environmental oversight by a slew of local, state and federal agencies.

That's why recreational fishermen are actively participating in the MLPA process to examine all options available to prevent harm to our oceans. Recreational fishermen are stepping up to help answer myths about our activities, and we support scientifically based management of California's ocean resources.

Coincidentally, most Californians aren't even aware of the MLPA and efforts to ban recreational fishermen from the state's coasts. According to results from an independent research survey this month by the California-based Field Research Corporation, about 70 percent of Californians don't even know what the MLPA is and how it could prevent them from ocean fishing.

On top of that, most Californians don't see recreational fishing as a serious threat to ocean and marine life along the state's coast, according to the survey.

If you're interested in finding out more about this joint effort to help manage California's coastal waters, visit www.keepamericafishing.org/california.asp.

Help California preserve its resources and the coastal recreational fishing rite of passage for generations to come.

Greg Creamer is a Santa Rosa resident and a sportfisherman. He practices catch and release of all female fish and larger fish.