R-10388F:\atty\mu ni\laws\mjm\MarineLifeProtectionActReso032409
City Council Meeting: 3/24/2009 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER 10388 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA, SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
MARINE LIFE PROTECTION ACT (MLPA)
WHEREAS, the health of the Pacific Ocean is directly tied to the City of Santa
Monica's economy, public health, and environment; and
WHEREAS, there is increasing scientific evidence that human activities are
damaging marine ecosystems and ocean life; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica endorses a balanced approach to
managing, sustaining, and protecting the ocean environment, including protection of
habitat and wildlife, fishing and recreation; and
WHEREAS, California adopted the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) in 1999 to
provide improved protection for the diversity and abundance of California's ocean
habitats through a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) with the goals of
sustaining, conserving and protecting marine life populations; protecting marine
ecosystems; improving recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by
marine ecosystems; and protecting marine natural heritage; and
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WHEREAS, in order to ensure success of the MLPA, diverse, interested
stakeholders, including fishermen are included in the MPA design; and
WHEREAS, MPAs encompass a range of protection levels, from fully protected
no-take reserves to parks and conservation areas that allow for only certain types of
fishing activity; and
WHEREAS, there is strong scientific evidence that marine protected areas,
especially marine reserves, restore and protect the natural diversity and abundance of
marine life, and the structure, function and integrity of marine ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, marine reserves throughout the world generally show greater
benefits to the habitat and wildlife populations, resulting in significantly higher densities
of marine life within their boundaries relative to only partially protected sites; and
WHEREAS, MPAs and reserve designation requires a balance of ecological,
political, economic and social goals.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Monica supports the goals
and implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act to establish a network of MPAs in
California waters designed to protect the State's marine life, habitat, and ocean
ecosystems.
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SECTION 2. That the City Council of the City of Santa Monica endorses the
planning process for the Marine Life Protection Act in Southern California and will
support creative implementation processes that include input from the science
community and all interested stakeholders, including fishermen.
SECTION 3. That the City Council of the City of Santa Monica endorses the use
of MPAs with a variety of protection levels in order to accommodate multiple objectives
and stakeholder use, but strongly urges the use of fully protected marine reserves to the
greatest extent practicable to ensure the health of California's marine- resources for
future generations.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Adopted and approved this 24th day of March, 2009.
Ken Genser, Mayor
I, Maria Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution No. 10388 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa
Monica City Council held on the 24th day of March, 2009, by the following vote:
Ayes: Council members: Bloom, Davis, Holbrook, McKeown
Mayor Genser, Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor
Noes: Council members: None
Abstain: Council members: None
Absent: Council members: Shriver
ATTEST:
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Maria Stewart, C ty Clerk