02-27-2007, 10:10 PM
Under the Marine Protected Area Draft Framework, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) outlined how it would designate portions of federal and state marine waters as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). In developing this framework, NOAA formed a Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) to provide recommendations for this process. The 30-member Committee included representatives from the sportfishing industry and angling community, including ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. However, NOAA chose not to accept two key recommendations of the Advisory Committee with regard to access and use of marine resources within a Marine Protected Area.
The Committee stressed that appropriate access to, and use of, marine resources be consistent with the goals of Marine Protected Areas and recommended periodic assessments of MPAs to determine the appropriate time-frame of designations and possible re-opening. The Draft Framework does not acknowledge the concept of consistent access and use, and because it contains no provisions for timeframe or review, it implies that designations would be considered permanent.
ASA has submitted comments to NOAA, asking NOAA to include the Advisory Committee's recommendations in the MPA Final Framework.
The Committee stressed that appropriate access to, and use of, marine resources be consistent with the goals of Marine Protected Areas and recommended periodic assessments of MPAs to determine the appropriate time-frame of designations and possible re-opening. The Draft Framework does not acknowledge the concept of consistent access and use, and because it contains no provisions for timeframe or review, it implies that designations would be considered permanent.
ASA has submitted comments to NOAA, asking NOAA to include the Advisory Committee's recommendations in the MPA Final Framework.