Update on Marine Protected Area meeting coming soon to Santa Barbara on May 5 & 6 - 

This is about access.
This is about our community.
This is about the future of fishing along the Santa Barbara Coast and Northern Channel Islands.

We are asking the California Fish & Game Commission to DENY ALL MPA expansion petitions, including the creation of a new Carpinteria Reef closure and Point Conception expansion proposals. We firmly believe that now is NOT the time to expand the current marine protected areas that have been in place for over 12 years We are strongly opposed to petition 2023–29 MPA - The Carpinteria Reef area. If approved, this will remove all access to the fishable areas off Carpinteria for all recreational spearfishing, kayak fishing, boat based fishing, and lobster fishing. It would also severely impact and even cancel our 1/2 day short run fishing trips for first timers, kids trips, and of course, Fish For Life!

These decisions impact:
🎣 Local anglers
🎣 Families & kids programs
🎣 Small businesses
🎣 Small boat commercial fishermen

Show up in person or join on Zoom.
If you don’t speak up, decisions will be made without you. 

📍 May 5 & 6 Coastal petitions Tuesday, Island petitions Wednesday
🖥 Zoom available: fgc.ca.gov and full agenda 
Www.fgc.ca.gov 
***Please note that the regional meeting for the expanded petitions being discussed in LA County/Orange County/San Diego county will be on May 19 in San Clemente. If you live down that way, please consider going to the meeting or calling in on Zoom.  

#SaveOurFishing #SantaBarbara #Carpinteria #ChannelIslands #PublicAccess #SupportSportfishing #FishForLife 

* a friendly reminder that everything that we have done during this process has been collaborative and respectful. If you put a disrespectful message on this notice, it will be deleted. We need to remain respectful to all who have an opinion. We are providing education and believe in  protecting our fishing access.