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RFA Teams with CCNM To Protect Resources

Recreational anglers who cherish the California coast will assist with the preservation and management of the California Coastal National Monument (CCNM), under terms of an agreement announced today by the Bureau of Land Management and the Recreational Fishing Alliance.

Rick Hanks, the BLM's CCNM manager, and Jim Martin, west coast regional director of the RFA announced that the organization will be working as a collaborative partner to help the BLM and its other partners in the implementation of this unique national monument.

"We are delighted that RFA will be bringing insight and expertise to the long-term protection and management of the unique resources of the California Coastal National Monument," Hanks said. "Their participation during the public comment period brought to light important concerns of the recreational fishing community, and helped us modify the draft plan to address these issues. Their help will be important as we work to implememt the monument's Resource Management Plan that will be completed this fall."

"If there is a problem with coastal resources, recreational anglers want to be part of the solution," said Dr. Fred Hollander of the RFA. "At the same time, we want to preserve our coastal fishing access that Californians cherish."

The California Coastal National Monument, established by presidential proclamation in January 2000, includes more than 20,000 rocks and small islands stretching the length of the California coastline. The monument includes rocks and islands from the mean high tide line, out 12 nautical miles.

"RFA members were concerned about some of the language in the draft management plan for the CCNM that may have impacted our freedom to fish around the exposed rocks and reefs along our coast," reported Martin. "As the BLM discovered during a series of public meetings up and down the coast, RFA members are well-informed and dedicated to preserving public access, and they are ready to turn out in force when their interests are at stake. At the same time, we demonstrated that RFA members are eager to discuss how recreational fishermen can help protect natural resources and cooperate with federal agencies when real problems are identified."

The BLM works in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Game and Department of Parks and Recreation in day-to-day management of the monument. In addition to RFA, other collaborative partners include the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and PRBO Conservation Science.

Hanks said that in the future more collaborative partners will be added to help implement particular aspects of the monument. The CCNM's collaborative partners are agencies and organizations that have specific interests and expertise that, when linked with the CCNM, enhance both the monument's purpose, as well as mission, goals, and purpose of the collaborative partner. Additonally, local govermental organizations and entities with ownership and management responsibilities for specific portions of the coast that adjoins part of the CCNM will be invited to serve as stewardship partners.

The BLM will be releasing the Proposed Final Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement for the CCNM later this spring. A 30-day public protest period on the document will begin upon release. For more information contact Hanks at the California Coastal National Monument Office at (831) 372-6115 or write to California Coastal National Monument, 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940.

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