Today, the California Fish and Game Commission will vote on a proposal to protect birds and habitat along the North Central Coast. The proposal -- supported by Audubon California and many other conservation groups -- is being offered under the Marine Life Protection Act. This process got a little bit of unforeseen drama in the last week due to shifting personnel on the commission, but all seems set for a decision today. Audubon California just hopes that it's the right decision. Below the fold is our statement supporting the proposal:

Audubon California is asking the California Fish and Game Commission to approve a proposal to protect birds and habitat along the North Central Coast, one of the state’s most spectacular and ecologically important shorelines. The proposed plan – called the North Central Coast Integrated Preferred Alternative –was created through a collaborative process that included conservationists as well as representatives from commercial and recreational interests.

The Commission is set to take testimony on the proposal at its May 14 hearing. Audubon California supports the proposal because it creates essential protections for a number of important seabirds, particularly Common Murre, Tufted Puffin, Brandt’s Cormorant, Ashy-Storm-Petrel, and Brown Pelican – to name just a few.

“This is a big step in the right direction for marine birds and wildlife along the North Central Coast,” said Anna Weinstein, seabird conservation coordinator for Audubon California. “Up and down the coast, seabirds are facing tremendous challenges to survive as food sources become less reliable and critical nesting sites face more disturbances.”

The Marine Life Protection Act requires the state to protect and restore California’s coastal ecosystems by establishing a network of marine reserves to safeguard species and habitats while at the same time accommodating the needs of fishing and recreation. The Act divides California into five study areas, which each need to be approved by the Commission.

The North Central Coast study area covers the area from Point Arena in Mendocino County down to Pigeon Point in San Mateo County, from the shore to the three-mile jurisdictional limit. The North Central Coast Integrated Preferred Alternative assigns 14 percent of the area with High to Very High protection. Additionally, the proposal will create a number of special closure zones, where no vessels may enter, to protect seabirds and marine mammals from disturbance.

“This act was created to protect wildlife and habitat that are under pressure, and it was critical that this proposal include strong protections for seabirds,” said Rick Johnson from the Marin Audubon Society who participated in negotiations from the earliest stages. “It is a credit to all those who participated in these talks that everyone recognized early on that seabirds are an essential part of California’s natural legacy.”

Audubon California has encouraged its members and supporters to contact the Fish and Game Commission to express their support for the Integrated Preferred Alternative.