Welcome to United Anglers of Southern California.
About UsUASC is a not-for-profit organization made up of volunteers dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment. We represent sport fishermen from all parts of California who would like to pass on the sport they love to future generations. United Anglers recognizes the need for commercial fisheries but opposes the indiscriminate depletion of the resource for short term profit.
More Information
MEETINGS AND MORE MEETINGS
The Monthly United Anglers of Southern California MLPA Update
- Regional Stakeholder Group Nominations
- MLPA 101 Meetings
- Local Meetings at Tackle Stores and Clubs
RSG Nominations
UASC invites you to email letters of support for UASC's nominations to the Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG). This is the primary group which will draw the lines on the maps to create the marine protected areas in the south coast region. Our letters of nomination and support can be found at IMPORTANT MLPA INFORMATION page on our website http://www.unitedanglers.com/
The team consists of our own Bob Osborn, Paul Lebowitz from Kayak Fishing Association of California, Wendy Tochihara of Izorline, and Dick Schaffer of Purfield's Tackle. Bob attended all the meetings in the north central region to learn the ins and outs of the process. Bob understands what can and cannot be done within the process and he knows fishing in Southern California so we expect him to lead the team. The other three are well known fishermen in the Southern California bight in their own right. They will also depend on other recreational fishing appointees. There are several names we've heard and they are all good people. Nominations are due on July 18 with support letters encouraged to be in at the same time, although later submissions will be considered. Send your support letters to: MLPAComments@resources.ca.gov.
The letters can be very brief, simply that you support these people for the RSG and that you are a recreational fisherman. Include where you fish (Santa Barbara, San Diego, or list all the places), what type of fishing you do, and your fishing affiliations. A thanks for mentioning United Anglers of Southern California.
MLPA 101
The Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (MLPAI) held six orientation meetings along the coast. Starting in Santa Barbara, then Oxnard and Santa Monica before the Fourth of July and finishing with Huntington Beach, Carlsbad and San Diego last week, the entire UASC staff attended at least one of these sessions to have a chance to talk with fishermen, scientists, and the Initiative staff. Beth Lafferty led the team with 5 meetings, Tom Raftican with 4, then Bob Osborn, Dan Fink and April Wakeman with 2 each. Lenny Vu, Jenny Armstrong (with Jack and Ellie), and Ron Kline made one meeting. Board members Nancy Christiano, Bob Clarke, Tony Infante, and Dick Schaffer also attended.
The mood from fishermen was generally positive with attendees agreeing that working within the process will improve the outcome for recreational anglers.
UASC Begins MLPA Classes - Coming to a Store or Club Near You!
UASC is getting ready to kick off an aggressive outreach campaign to share information about the MLPA. The purpose is to both inform anglers about what is happening AND to take angler's attitudes and ideas back to the process. "They seem to be serious when they say they want to hear from our members," Tom Raftican observed. "We hope to bring our team to tackle stores and continue our club visits so our team can talk with anyone who is interested." If your favorite tackle store doesn't have a meeting scheduled, let us know and we'll set one up.
Stay Informed: To stay on top of the MLPA visit our website at http://www.unitedanglers.com/. An even easier way is to schedule Jenny Armstrong to visit you club and give you a 5 minute update. Jenny can be reached at Jenny@unitedanglers.com or calling the office at (949) 863-9447.
Please forward this message to anyone you know that may be interest in the MLPA and like to get involve with the process.
UASC APPLAUDS ANNOUNCEMENT OF CENTER FOR COASTAL CONSERVATION
July 14, 2008 - United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) today expressed its congratulations and support for the newly formed Center for Coastal Conservation, a national organization that will be officially launched during a news conference at the 2008 ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades) Show in Las Vegas on Thursday,
July 17. This new nationwide political conservation coalition was formed through the alliance of America's major fishing tackle and boating trade organizations in concert with an array of national sportfishing organizations: the American Sportfishing Association, the Billfish Foundation, the Coastal Conservation Association, the International Game Fish Association and the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
"Separately, each of these organizations has accomplished great things in promoting the value and enjoyment of family fishing and wise use of our outdoor resources," said Tom Raftican, President of UASC. "A strong, broad based coalition such as this will be vital in meeting the challenges our nation's anglers and boaters will face in the future. We trust they will do a great job carrying forward sportfishing's legacy of family values and conservation, and we offer our whole-hearted support," Raftican added.
For additional information on the programs and activities of United Anglers of Southern California, contact organization headquarters at (949) 863-9447 or visit http://www.unitedanglers.com/
Dear Fishing Clubs,
Dear Fishing Clubs,
The MLPA process is getting started with a bang here in Southern California. As you are aware, the development of plans that set out protected areas is done primarily by the Regional Stakeholder Group or RSG. Currently the process is accepting nominations for the South Coast Region RSG. United Anglers of Southern California will support Bob Osborn, our fisheries consultant. Bob had the highest attendance of anyone in the North Central Region so he understands what happens, why, and how to influence the process. He has also been fishing along the Southern California bight since the fishing bug bit him back in the 50's. We will also work with Paul Liebowitz as the Kayak representative and Terry Maas representing free divers.
If there is someone in your club who is interested in participating, please let us know and we can help with his or her nomination. The results in the North Central Region proved that by being active recreational fishermen can influence the process.
Nominations are also open for the Science Advisory Team. It is expected that both groups will hold their first meetings in September.
For updates, check our website or call to have Jenny Armstrong talk at your next club meeting.
Tight Lines,
Tom Raftican
Monthly United Anglers MLPA Update
The Monthly United Anglers of Southern California MLPA Update
White Sea Bass Pop Wide Open On Both Sides Of Catalina
Also wide open is the MLPA where there have been:
- Meetings with Ecotrust (Economics of Recreational fishing)
- The BRTF Delivers North Central Plans to the Commission
- NorCal Plan Meetings
- MLPA 101 Meetings Scheduled
Ecotrust:
Ecotrust will conduct a survey among recreational anglers on where they fish. The results will be used to design MPAs with the least impact on recreational fishing. Ben Sleeter, the brilliant architect of the 2XA Plan in the north central region has emphasized that the Ecotrust data was very important in saving fishing locations while creating MPAs which met the scientific guidelines and rated highest for conservation.
UASC is urging all private boaters, kayakers, pier and surf fishermen to sign up for this survey at www.ecotrust.com/mlpa, or click the link on our website - http://www.unitedanglers.com/ - for a link to the survey signup.
Blue Ribbon Task Force Delivers Plans to Fish and Game Commission:
In a surprisingly short (3 ½ hours) meeting on June 11 in Sacramento, Susan Golding, chair of the BRTF presented 5 plans for MPA networks in the north central region to Richard Rogers and the rest of the Fish and Game Commission. The plans include:
- A no action alternative for comparison
- IPA or Integrated Preferred Alternative put together by the BRTF from parts of the other plans
- Plan 1-3, a combination of plans developed by RSG (regional stakeholder group) members
- Plan 2-XA, a combination of an RSG and an outside developed plan
- Plan 4 attributed mainly to the NRDC
Public Hearings:
Meetings were held in the north central region on the 17th, 18th and 19th to tell the public about the development of the CEQA analysis of each of the plans which is required under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Although the Commission has not issued a timetable, people are guessing that it will hold two special meetings to hear testimony on the north central plans rather than include comment in their normally scheduled meetings. The "final" decision would be made at the October meeting in Sacramento (which was originally scheduled for Bishop).
MLPA 101 - Middle School on the MLPA
There will be meetings in Southern California to educate the public about the MLPA and the process of implementation. They are supposed to be very good so if you are interested try and attend.
The dates and locations are:
July 8 Huntington Beach/HB Harbor View Clubhouse
16600 Saybrook Lane,
714-536-5486
July 9 Carlsbad/Hilton Garden Inn
6450 Carlsbad Boulevard,
760-476-0800
July 10 San Diego/Holiday Inn Express Old Town
3900 Old Town Boulevard,
619-299-7400
*All workshop times are 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm
