I sent this to Governor Kulongoski.
He had the administrator of his Marine Reserve Task Force Contact me and we will be scheduling a face-to-face meeting to discuss the Governors views and potential impacts the Marine Reserves would have on fishing and Coastal Economy already in peril because of the Salmon Closures.
When the meeting is set I will post the date. Please respond if you would like to attend.
rich@savemyfish.org
http://www.oregon.gov/Gov/contact_us.shtml
=======================================
To: Governor Ted Kulongoski
From: Rich Wooten
President Save My Fish
Re: Marine Reserves
Date: 4-16-2008
It has come to my attention that you personally have made the decision to move forward with the Marine Reserves off of the Oregon Coast.
I assume you have researched the impact of the Marine Reserves off of the California Coast as they pertain to recreational opportunities.
As a Native Oregonian and dedicated Sports Fisherman I would like to schedule 30-minutes of your time so you can explain to me the logic behind your decision to move forward with the Ocean Policy Advisory Committee before I chose to pursue legal recourse in this matter.
Next Wednesday at 2:30 PM works with my schedule, please let me know if that works for you. We can meet at your office or mine.
Here is my direct line: 503-626-8000
Rich Wooten
1220 Lake Rd
Rockaway Beach Oregon
rich@savemyfish.org
=======================================
Oregon Anglers' ALERT (3/29/08)
I just spent Thursday and Friday in Newport for the Marine Working Group (Marine Reserves) and OPAC (Ocean Policy Advisory Committee) meetings.
I joined OA's ocean team members John Holloway, Walter Chuck, OA's President Tony Meeker and Ron Mason. We fully expected to hear a stand-down from the Governor's office. OPAC had just spent $80,000 on a coast-wide outreach program in which a staff member from Sea Grant and a former ODFW Commissioner led the meetings and promised that "everyone will be heard". The comments were generally against establishing marine reserves that are set to fail because of haste and a lack of science. The sentiment for reserves was about 1%. Much to their surprise, and ours, midway through the morning, and just before public comment, a decree from Kulongoski was read to all.
The Governor told OPAC, an advisory group, that they were to work with ODFW in moving along with the MR nomination process immediately, and have up to 9 reserves screened and ready by Jan. 2009. This sitting process will be random, since we do not have the species assessments or mapping needed to make them work. It is nothing more than an attack on fishing to take areas out of access FOREVER.
Oregon Anglers is NOT against well planned marine reserves. But they must have:
1) Clear objectives- target species in need of help must be identified
2) Specifically selected for the target species- depth, structure, etc.
3) Pre-assessed as to number and size of the target species, and other occupants in the area
4) Research assessments must be conducted regularly
5) FUNDING
6) A sunset clause must be a part of the sitting- if there is no difference, or funding is not available to continue, the NO TAKE designation must be removed.
7) MOST IMPORTANTLY control must be retained by the citizens of the state.
The Gov. obviously doesn't care.
After the extensive outreach he has given us all the finger and transferred the burden to ODFW. That way if it fails it is their fault. AND the cost, if not funded in other undetermined ways will come out of ODFW general funds- read that our license money for hatcheries and stream restoration for recovery.
The most important election in the history of sport fishing is upon us. We must elect, or re-elect, legislators aware of the impacts to fishing and the economy of not only the coast, but the whole state. Oregon Anglers is the lead on this once again. The Steelheaders will decide whether or not to join us next week. WE MUST build up our war chest. We will need at least $25,000 to make contributions, send letters of endorsement, and travel around the state to get the message out.
We will be getting a newsletter out very soon with more details, but invitations to speak to groups are very important at this point.
Dennis Richey, Oregon Anglers
Marine Reserves – Friend or Foe
http://www.pcffa.org/fn-feb99.htm
Oregon Governor Kulongoski is pushing hard to get more Marine Reserves off the Oregon Coast. There Marine Reserves are evil! Once implemented are permanent and we will lose access to more of our Natural Resources.
Marine Reserves are “Political” not for “Environmental” Purposes. The attached article will help shed some light on Marine Reserves.
The Daily Astorian, April 1, 2008
From dams that wrecked salmon runs to rockfish restrictions that some regard as being unsupported by the facts, government actions have for decades given coastal residents no reason to cheer.
It's no wonder Gov. Ted Kulongoski's marine reserve plan has met with reactions ranging from suspicion to outright hostility.
