Archives by Tag 'fisheries'

Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) – BRTF Unanimously Adopts South Coast Region MPA Proposal (November 2009)

On November 12, 2009, the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF) unanimously (5 – 0) adopted a preferred marine protected area (MPA) proposal for the south coast study region, which includes 27 state marine reserves (SMRs), 1 state marine park (SMP) and 16 state marine conservation areas (SMCAs); this recommended proposal is referred to as [...]

Marine Protected Areas on California’s North Central Coast (August 2009)

On August 5, 2009, the California Fish & Game Commission voted to place roughly 20 percent of the state’s north central coastal waters (or approximately 153 square miles) into 21 marine protected areas (MPAs) and 3 marine recreational management areas. The designated waters (map below) were identified through a CONCUR-facilitated multi-stakeholder process (DFG project home [...]

California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative South Coast Study Region (2008 – present)

CONCUR is the lead facilitator for the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative’s Regional Stakeholder Group (RSG) in its Southern California Study Region.  The MLPA provides that California will establish a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2011.  The MLPA pays particular attention to protecting representative examples of important habitats and ensuring that [...]

Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (2008-present)

CONCUR is facilitating the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). CONCUR’s work focuses on (1) conducting initial stakeholder assessments, (2) convening both in-person and teleconference meetings among fishermen, conservationists, academics, researchers and various government agencies, and (3) summarizing emerging agreement. CONCUR’s work with NMFS on this effort [...]

Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team (2005-present)

CONCUR is facilitating the Atlantic Pelagic Longline Take Reduction Team (PLTRT) for the National Marine Fisheries Service. The aim is to complete a regulatory negotiation to reduce take of protected pilot whales and Risso’s dolphin species. Team members include representatives of the longline fleet from Maine to Florida, state and regional fisheries organizations, national [...]

Abalone Advisory Group (Fall 2007-Present)

CONCUR is working with the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) staff to support the work of the San Miguel Island Abalone Fishery Advisory Group (AAG). The AAG is a stakeholder group representing the interests of commercial fishing, recreational diving, marine conservation, and fisheries science. Its mission is to recommend a limited range of [...]

California Ocean Protection Council National Collaborative Fisheries Research Workshop (May 2008)

CONCUR completed an assignment for the California Ocean Protection Council wherein we helped design and facilitate a two-day nationwide workshop on Collaborative Fisheries Research (CFR). Our team conducted pre-workshop interviews to help create the workshop agenda, and used our working knowledge of ocean and coastal policy, including the status of California ocean fisheries, to [...]

Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team (2007-present)

CONCUR is facilitating the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). This work – one of four Take Reduction Teams being facilitated for NMFS by CONCUR – strives to identify consensus-supported approaches that can reduce bycatch to sustainable levels. After an initial stakeholder assessment, CONCUR convened and [...]

California Offshore Oil & Gas Platform Decommissioning Project (2008)

In early 2008, CONCUR successfully completed a project for the California Resources Agency to create a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) to examine the major issues associated with decommissioning the State’s 27 offshore oil and gas platforms. Working closely with the office of the Assistant Secretary for Ocean and Coastal Policy and his staff, the [...]

California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative - North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (2006-2007)

CONCUR helped to facilitate this second phase of the California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative in 2006-2007. In completing their work, the North Central Coast Regional Stakeholder Group (NCCRSG) worked closely with two other bodies - a Blue Ribbon Task Force of senior policy advisors and a Science Advisory Team - to inform the decisions [...]