Jim Martin's Testimony to the Calif. Legislature

Testimony for the California State Legislature Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture

36th Annual Fisheries Forum

March 26th, 2009

Presented byJim Martin
West Coast Regional Director, Recreational Fishing Alliance

Vice President, Salmon Restoration Association

Vice President, Sonoma County Abalone Network

Mendocino County Fish & Game Commission

Groundfish Advisor to the Pacific Fishery Management Council

Member, MLPA Statewide Interest Group

Trustee, California Fisheries Coalition

Thank you, Senator Wiggins, and members of the committee. For the record, my name is Jim Martin. I am a recreational fisherman out of Noyo Harbor. I'd like to invite you all to our fish fry in Fort Bragg this summer. I am speaking on behalf of Mendocino County and the communities on the north coast that are being impacted by the proposed regulations for the implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA).

There are three main issues to cover:

1. The disproportionate economic impacts to Point Arena

2. The proposed regulations far exceed the funding available

3. Private funding has biased the process and circumvents the

legislatures' oversight

Read the rest of Jim's testimony at the Fish Sniffer.