MLPA MEETINGS

[bluefin2na]

GET IN THE GAME OR SHUT THE FUCK UP






Public Meetings
All meetings are open to the public and are also simultaneously webcast on the day of the meeting at the MLPA Initiative website.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Science Advisory Team
9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
6101 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Regional Stakeholder Group
Work Session 1*
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Embassy Suites Hotel North
9801 Airport Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90254
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Regional Stakeholder Group
Work Session 2*
9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Huntington Beach (Location TBD)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Science Advisory Team
9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Conference Call
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Blue Ribbon Task Force

Santa Barbara/Ventura area (Location TBD)
All meeting agendas are posted to the MLPA website at least a week in advance of the meeting and meeting materials are posted as soon as they become available. In addition to the simultaneous webcast of meetings, the video and audio archives are posted to the website within two days of each meeting.
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[BEEJ]

What do we need to do, just attend the meeting? Do we speak up, vote, what?

[seasonsfishing]

I went to the Huntington Beach meeting on tues night , and have to say these people are robots.... We seriously all must get involved and let our voice be heard , because once is goes into law we are FUCKED and there is no chance for you to speak later.

The real first meeting of all this is taking place in OXNARD on March 2nd & 3rd, which brought up some discussion as this is the biggest week for the sportfishing industry. "Hey guys , you heard of a show called Fred Hall"?

Kind of weird no?????

Anyway get out and take part!!!

[landwhale]

I subjected myself to the MLPA workshop on Tuesday in Huntington Beach from 8:00am til 7:30pm. The meeting actually started at 9:30 though the e-mail that I read said 8:00am. The staff started the day by roboticaly going through there mandatory reminders and warnings of fair play. Then they broke up into 3 groups as they had been assigned at a previous workshop. I spent most of my time in one meeting and some in a second. These workshops are where they are marking the areas they want closed, protected or monitored, notice I didn't say they were marking any areas to save the members were not allowed to voice any opinions on the sites as they were filled in on the maps and some were put up as reserves without any reason given just I want one here. Everything is done on a time schedule which any of you that have been envolved in any negotiations know is imposible to do and do right. Now if this sounds a little one sided it is and that is just the tip of what is going on. YOU REALLY NEED TO ATTEND ONE OF THESE MEETINGS Jamie I sat at the table you were at saw your logo and it went right over my head should have introduced myself. Your comments are kind the representatives said only enough of what they knew so they weren't lying though not giving the whole truth. I want to again thank Tommy for what he is doing for us how you do it without maiming anyone is unreal. The people that we have on our side in these meetings cannot speak out against the way this is being done without losing their seat on the stakeholders group and that would cost us our representation. Maybe this rambles a little though I hope it OPENS YOUR EYES, now go to a meeting and then lets talk about the avenues we can work on.......................

[USMC9999]

What do we need to do, just attend the meeting? Do we speak up, vote, what?


Just show up to one (even though these are scheduled during times most of you will have to work). To lend moral support if nothing else. You will learn some things. About the process and the politics of the whole procedure.

You will not be allowed to vote. You will not be allowed to officially speak. You will not be allowed to act. You will be allowed to observe. You will learn what's on the block. You will learn how the opposition operates.

Put it this way: if no one but the sports/commercial group's stakeholders ever attended these meetings that will send a signal to the opposition that there may not be widespread support for what these stakeholder's propose so perhaps they (the opposition) could even push for more of their agenda to be approved. That's the only real good reason I know of why one should attend at least one meeting other than learning a few things.

You people ARE going to feel the sting of what is going to happen down in this area regarding closures/reserve areas when this is finally finalised. I know basically the areas proposed to be closed/limited to fishing proposed by the groups representing fishing interests. They by themselves are large areas. But the opposition is proposing far, far more.


I haven't yet sat in on one of these meetings. But I plan to in a future meeting.
I sat through a few when this process started in the Channel Islands a few years ago. No one on the fishing side was widely organised during that time or took the threat seriously enough (seven years ago how many of you even cared what happened up there or payed attention to what was happening?). The opposition was organised, showed up to meetings and had a field day getting their agenda finalised.
At least now the people representing your interests are organised and have a slight chance of making a differance that WILL impact your recreation in the future.

Read Jamie's and landwhale's reports.....they're spot on.

Thanks Tommy and Paul for your efforts.