Adoption of a Resolution Supporting the Implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act. City of Culver City California Agenda Item Report Meeting Date: 08/24/2009 Item Number: A 1 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Adoption of a Resolution Supporting the Implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act Contact Person/Dept.: Helen Kerstein/PW Phone Number: (310) 253 5618 Fiscal Impact: Yes No X General Fund: Yes No X Public Hearing: Action Item: X Attachments: X Commission Action Required: Yes No X Date: _______________ Public Notification: (E Mail) Ongoing Topics Sustainability and Environmental Issues (08/19/09); Meetings and Agendas City Council (08/19/09) Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson (08/13/09) Chief Financial Officer Approval: Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (08/19/09) City Attorney Approval: Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (08/19/09) City Manager Approval: Mark Scott (08/19/09) RECOMMENDATION: Staff implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act. recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution supporting the BACKGROUND: For many years state and federal governments have attempted to protect fish and other sea life. One way in which they have done this is to create Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where fishing is typically limited or prohibited. As of 1999 there were over a hundred MPAs in the ocean surrounding the State of California. However these MPAs were created on a case by case basis without the coordination necessary to ensure their effectiveness at protecting wildlife. In 1999 the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) was passed by the State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Gray Davis. One of the goals of the MLPA was to bring a more coherent strategic and inclusive process to the creation of MPAs in order to protect fragile ecosystems and support biodiversity. The MLPA required the California Department of Fish and Game (Department) to create a master plan to guide the creation of new MPAs. In order to implement the MLPA the Department formed thre...
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