Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education

Examining marine reserves - near and far . . .
Tuesday, 03 June 2008

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Contents:
  - MLPA
  - A Sheltered Sea
  - World Ocean Day
  - SOS Shark Center
  - Galápagos
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Hello, fellow ocean lovers!

As we mentioned in our last newsletter, the process is
nearly complete for the North Central Coast region of 
the California Marine Life Protection Act.   

Next week, the governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) 
will be making its recommendations to the California
Fish and Game Commission.

The Task Force decided to forward to the Commission all
three proposals developed by the Regional Stakeholder 
Group, intact, but they also included a preferred
alternate of their own design.  

Their preferred alternative is a moderately reasonable
compromise, but lacks protection in some very important
areas.  We consider the BRTF's preferred alternative to
be a valid and effective proposal which will do great 
things for our coast and our ocean; however, we still 
deeply believe in the merits and long term value of 
Proposal 4.

If you would like to be involved, it's still possible 
to voice your opinion and preference to the Fish & Game 
Commission.  The task force recommendations are scheduled 
to be delivered to the Commission on June 11th, from 
09:00am - 1:00pm.

The public meeting will be held at the Clarion Hotel in
Sacramento:
     Clarion Hotel
     700 - 16th Street
     Sacramento CA  95814

and will be webcast at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/meetings.asp

 ---

On the topic of the MLPA, the Baum Foundation (who we're
hopeful will become a future sponsor), has produced a 
wonderful short film documenting the process of 
California's Marine Life Protection Act.  They have 
graciously made the film available for free online.

"A Sheltered Sea: The Journey of the California Marine
Life Protection Act" is a 23-minute documentary that
tells the story of this landmark law that is now being
implemented along the California coast.  The film is
narrated by the stakeholders, scientists, and public
servants who are making it happen.

You can watch the trailer here:
    http://coare.org/videos/sheltered/

Take a few minutes and watch "A Sheltered Sea" online.
(For the full film, click on "high speed" or "low speed"
depending on your internet connection.)

 ---

Yes... let's celebrate the ocean....
World Ocean Day is this Sunday, June 8th! 

Sunday's beach cleanup will take place at Ocean Beach
from 10:00am to noon.  We'll meet at Santiago Street and
Great Highway.

Friday evening (June 6th), there will also be a Happy 
Hour and mini film festival taking place at the Wipeout 
Bar & Grill in Greenbrae.  Big wave surfer Grant
Washburn will be presenting his new film: Quest for
Fear.

You can find the address on our WOD event site: 
   http://oceandaysf.org/

 ---

Earlier this month, the Save Our Seas Foundation opened
the doors of its new Save Our Seas Shark Centre (SOSSC)
in Kalk Bay, South Africa, a white shark hotspot.

The SOSSC will promote the protection and conservation
of sharks worldwide by developing scientific research
projects, and global education and awareness projects
that target the general public, fishers, and in
particular, children. 

The Centre will also encourage collaboration with other
scientists, universities, industry and government in the
area of shark research and conservation both locally and
internationally.

Check out our news section for the full press release,
and drop in for a visit if you're close to Kalk Bay! 

 ---

We just returned from the Galápagos, where we begin
production of our first educational short film.  Listed
as a World Heritage Site by the UN, the Galápagos is,
indeed, a place of wonderous and diverse terrestrial and
marine life.

Our timing was fortuitous, as we returned just before 
seasonal baggage limitations were put in place by
several airlines.  (Film gear tends to be heavy).  

We were able to capture some amazing footage, showing
some of richness of the underwater world -- how things
should be.  However, even in the remote Galápagos
Islands, we saw man's big fat footprint.

We found illegal fishing implementations near the remote
Wolf Island... and from such signs as plastic bottles 
washed ashore, 1000km from the South American mainland, to
a seal choking because of a rubber ring stuck around her
neck, the effects of our society even in these remote
parts were immediately obvious.

Additionally, changes in currents and other aspects of
the environment and climate have had a profound effect.
While diving at Darwin Island, which is known for its
abundant fish and great schools of hammerheads, we
witnessed several days where there was an eerie absence
of currents and a near void of fish and pelagics.
In his nine years of diving at Darwin, our Divemaster 
had never seen such an event.

Similarly, at one site where the odd-looking red-lipped
batfish is usually found "by the hundreds", we found
three on one dive.  Several days later, when we returned
to that same site, we were only able to find one.


It's sobering to see such things in remote places, and
in areas that are protected.  If such horrors are
occurring there, who wants to imagine what is taking
place elsewhere?


While it's sad that so few people are aware of the
issues facing our oceans, the bright side is that they
WANT to know.

Everyone we meet is happy to learn about our work, and
is enthused to learn more.

Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends, 
family, and colleagues.  If you received this newsletter 
second hand, we encourage you to subscribe directly by 
visiting http://coare.org/subscribe/


Wishing you healthy oceans,
 - Your friends at COARE

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