United Anglers of Southern California

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

PLEASE ATTEND THE BLUE RIBBON TASK FORCE MEETING ON THURSDAY JUNE 4, 2009

The Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) decided to blatantly overturn a secret ballot vote of the South Coast Study Regional Stakeholders Group (RSG). The RSG members were given the direction to choose, by vote, from four out of five remaining proposed arrays of marine protected areas generated for the South Coast Region.

The Stakeholders made their decision which resulted in the elimination of External “C” Proposal. This is the hard-line environmental community plan with an extensive number of no take reserves. The BRTF Chairman, Don Benninghoven and MLPA Executive Director, Ken Wiseman decided to disregard the RSG’s knowledge and decision to allow External “C” Proposal to move forward in the MLPAI process to be evaluated for consideration in the next round.

This decision compromises the “open and transparent” process in which the RSG have been working in order to fulfill their responsibility as members. Further, I feel if a pro-fishing proposal, especially External “B” Proposal authored by United Anglers of Southern California, would have been eliminated by the vote that Mr. Benninghoven and Mr. Wiseman would not have made the same decision.

Therefore, we ask that you come to the next Blue Ribbon Task Force Meeting to voice your concerns for the following:

1) Opposition to the unilateral decision to allow all proposals to move forward.
2) Implore the BRTF to reinstate the decision and listen to the Stakeholders.
3) This process needs to pause so that the Science Advisory Team can catch up and finalize guidelines so it can be properly disseminated to the RSG so that they can make informed decisions
4) Keep the process “open and transparent” by not using secret straw vote ballots.
5) Adhere to your rules that you direct to the stakeholders

The information about the meeting is below. I understand that it is difficult to attend meetings during working hours. However, it will be YOUR testimony that will, hopefully, encourage the MLPAI team and leadership to keep the process “open and transparent.”

Let your voice be heard.

Respectfully,

Steven Fukuto, President
United Anglers of Southern California


What: Blue Ribbon Task Force Meeting

When: Thursday, June 4, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. General public comment (not specific to a particular agenda item) will be taken at approximately 9:40 a.m.

Where: Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
6101 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045


We need a large turnout. The BRTF may limit the amount of time (as low as one minute) for each member of the public to speak. Be ready and speak directly to the point. The BRTF may also change the time of the public comment so please plan on waiting for a while.

For those of you unable to attend you can still make your opinion be heard via email or regular mail.

Go to: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/publicinvolvement_sc.asp

Email to: MLPAComments@resources.ca.gov

Or mail to:
Marine Life Protection Act/Initiative
c/o California Natural Resource Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814

Next Class

Date: June 24th, 2009
Time: 6:30PM—8:00PM

Burton Chase Park
13650 Mindanao Way
Los Angeles, CA 90292
(Classes will be at rear of park)

Educational Series is Open to All, Provides Hands-On Instruction From Leading Experts —
May 27 Class Offers Echosounder Advice From Furuno USA

In connection with the Playa Vista Public Library, Southern California-based fishing club Marina Del Rey Anglers (MDRA) has instituted an ongoing series of free seminars designed to make better, safer anglers out of all who attend.

The brain child of MDRA Vice President Joshua Gerson, these seminars are open to the general public (not just club members) and feature hands-on advice and instruction from top experts in the field.    Previous classes have covered the important “technical” topics of knot tying and rigging for Southern California fishing, as well as top techniques for local surf fishing and targeting pelagic gamefish such as tuna, yellowtail and dorado.

These classes are held at the Los Angles Public Library in Playa Vista, 6400 Playa Vista Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90094.    The library provides a comfortable learning environment for up to 70 students, complete with Audio/Visual support.    MDRA not only arranges for expert instructors, but also provides any necessary materials — so anglers don’t to bring anything but their desire to learn and catch more fish.

“The initiative it takes to put a program like this together shows just what a forward-thinking non-profit organization MDRA is,” said United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) President Steve Fukuto.   “We strongly support this educational and instructional program and hope our participation can make it even more successful.   We encourage UASC members and all Southern California fishermen to take advantage of this great learning opportunity,” added Fukuto.  

MDRA is a long-standing affiliate member of UASC and has been instrumental in the support and success of the Hubbs Sea World Research Institute (HSWRI) white seabass replenishment program.   For many years, MDRA volunteers have helped raise and release juvenile white seabass by staffing the Marina Del Rey growout pen, contributing to the addition of 1.5 million tagged white seabass to Southern California waters.

The next MDRA Fishing Seminar takes place May 27 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.   An expert from Furuno USA in Camas, Washington, will provide hands-on instruction on how to find and catch more fish using the company’s leading echosounder technology.  Gerson is planning many more free seminars for 2009 and beyond, giving anglers the chance to sharpen their skills in many areas.

To learn more, anglers should contact Joshua Gerson at (818) 439-1157 or email joshuagerson@gmail.com.

UNITED ANGLERS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA/L.A. FATHOMIERS OFFER FREE "MLPA 101" SEMINARS AT ALAMITOS BAY SPORTSMEN'S CLUB

This Seminar Will Focus on Increasing Public Understanding of MLPA Process and Implementation

United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) and sport diver's organization LA Fathomiers are teaming up to provide local anglers and other water users with a better understanding of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and its impending implementation in California coastal waters.

"It's our goal to help anglers and the general public gain a better grasp of this complex, sometimes confusing issue," said Steven Fukuto, UASC President.  "We're doing this by presenting the information at hand in a clear, concise manner, using plain talk.  We want people to walk away from this event understanding the challenges before us, what the recreational fishing community is doing and how we can work together to be able to fish in the future.  We encourage everybody who's interested in fishing to attend."

Dates for these free, approximately two-hour seminars are:

Saturday, May 16th at 1:00 PM
Each event will be held at the:
Alamitos Bay Sportsmen's Club
Monday, May 18th at 7:00 PM
1933 Temple Avenue, Signal Hill, CA 90755

Information will be presented by members of UASC MLPA team, along with Paul Romanowski of LA Fathomiers.

Anglers interested in attending should contact UASC's headquarters at (949) 863-9447.  For more information about UASC please visit the organization's website at [link]  No reservation needed.

Public comment is currently our best hope of influencing the process.

Speak Out Now at the May 19th MLPA Public Comment Meeting.

UNITED ANGLERS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA/L.A. FATHOMIERS OFFER FREE “MLPA 101” SEMINARS AT ALAMITOS BAY SPORTSMEN’S CLUB

Series of Four Seminars Will Focus on Increasing Public Understanding of MLPA Process and Implementation

United Anglers of Southern California (UASC) and sport diver’s organization LA Fathomiers are teaming up to provide local anglers and other water users with a better understanding of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and its impending implementation in California coastal waters.

“It’s our goal to help anglers and the general public gain a better grasp of this complex, sometimes confusing issue,” said Steven Fukuto, UASC President. “We’re doing this by presenting the information at hand in a clear, concise manner, using plain talk. We want people to walk away from this event understanding the challenges before us, what the recreational fishing community is doing and how we can work together to be able to fish in the future. We encourage everybody who’s interested in the future of fishing to attend.”

Dates for these free, approximately two-hour seminars are:

Monday, May 11th at 7:00 PM
Tuesday, May 12th at 7:00 PM
Saturday, May 16th at 1:00 PM
Monday, May 18th at 7:00 PM

Each event will be held at the:
Alamitos Bay Sportsmen’s Club
1933 Temple Avenue
Signal Hill, CA 90755

Information will be presented by members of UASC MLPA team, along with Paul Romanowski of LA Fathomiers.

Anglers interested in attending should contact UASC’s headquarters at (949) 863-9447. For more information about UASC please visit the organization’s website at www.unitedanglers.com.

2009 UASC GARAGE SALE RAISES FUNDS TO SUPPORT MLPA EFFORTS AND OTHER IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES

Joint Effort With May 2nd AFTCO Day at the Lots Sale,
 New Initiative to Collect Used Tackle Made This Event a Special One

Fishing enthusiasts who showed up to AFTCO's annual Day at the Lots sale looking for great deals on AFTCO clothing actually found a great deal more.  That's because this year's AFTCO event, which took place May 2nd, was also the site of the annual United Anglers of Southern California garage sale fundraiser, offering attendees bargains on a hundreds of used rods and reels, new Coleman camping gear and other outdoor related items.

Thousands of dollars were raised to help fund UASC's ongoing Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) activities during this crucial year for Southern California, as well as for the non-profit organization's work on youth fishing programs, white seabass replenishment efforts, habitat enhancement and more.  

"The AFTCO Parking Lot Sale is a very popular event, and we're grateful for the opportunity to have our fundraiser at the same time," said Steven Fukuto, UASC President.   "I want to express my personal thanks to AFTCO, as well as to the dozens of volunteers who donated their time to prepare the tackle for sale, set up and run the event.  This was a team effort in every sense of the word," added Fukuto.

Aside from the location and time of the year, this UASC Garage Sale Fundraiser was different in another way.  A new initiative by Mike Lum of Fred Hall & Associates provided special incentives for attendees of the 2009 Long Beach and Del Mar Hall Shows to donate used fishing tackle to UASC.   This effort resulted in a windfall of rods and reels of all types, shapes and sizes.  Leon Todd of Calstar donated several used rods that looked nearly new.  As a result, this event had even more bargains on rods and reels, and there was something for every fishing style and budget.    A lot of this donated gear was also used to beef up UASC's supply of free loaner tackle used during various kids fishing events going on all over the state.

The UASC garage sale fundraiser is just one event to help fund the important work this organization does on behalf of fish and fishermen.   The organization can always use financial support and the help of volunteers for a variety of events and activities during the year.   

Call UASC headquarters at (949) 863-9447 or visit [link] to learn more about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities in 2009.