| Schwarzenegger unveils action plan to protect Calif coast By
TERENCE CHEA, Associated Press Writer October 19, 2004 CARMEL, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a plan
to protect Pacific waters off the state's coast that seeks to make
California a national leader in ocean conservation. Schwarzenegger called Monday for the plan after the release of two well-publicized national reports - by the Pew Oceans Commission and U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - that detail the poor health of the nation's oceans and recommend ways to restore depleted fisheries, reduce pollution, improve governance and limit the impact of coastal development. "I wanted California to go above and beyond what was being recommended at the federal level," Schwarzenegger said, standing on a seaside promontory against a dramatic backdrop of jagged rocks and crashing waves at the Los Lobos State Reserve in Carmel. "I wanted California to have its own plan because (the ocean) is a place we are duty bound to protect today, tomorrow and forever." Clint Eastwood, a member of the state's park commission and one of Carmel's most famous residents, was among the officials on hand at the announcement. While taking a wait-and-see attitude, environmentalists generally praised the governor for recognizing the need to protect California's marine resources and taking the lead on ocean protection. "With this plan, he's put California light years ahead of any other state in terms of ocean restoration, protection and management," said Warner Chabot of the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy. "He's put action, policy and money on the table." After the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy released a draft report in April, Schwarzenegger directed his staff to put together an ocean action plan for California within 90 days. The plan, offered by the state Environmental Protection Agency and Resource Agency, calls for a number of immediate actions, many of which were taken when the governor signed legislation over the past two months. The plan's actions include the establishment of the California Ocean Protection Council to guide ocean policy and protection; an ocean currents monitory system to assist with fisheries management, oil spill cleanup and rescue operations; and a task force to support the California Marine Life Protection Act, which mandates the creation of a network of coastal reserves to protect fish and other marine life. As part of his plan, Schwarzenegger recently signed into law eight bills that seek to curb cruise-ship pollution, restrict fishermen from bottom trawling and boost funding for ocean protection programs, among other things. Nationally, the governor will demand stronger federal action to protect the state's coastal resources, and defend against the impact of offshore oil and gas drilling, according to the plan. "This plan represents a blueprint for how were going to protect and manage California's ocean resources now and into the future," said Brian Baird, assistant secretary for ocean and coastal policy at the state Resources Agency, who is the plan's chief author. "An investment in ocean protection is not only an investment in the environment, but also in the economy." In his first year in office, Schwarzenegger has impressed many environmentalists by signing more than 20 bills to improve air quality and conserve the Sierra Nevada, as well as protect the coast. They greeted the governor's ocean action plan with cautious optimism. "We think it's a good step forward that shows the administration's
commitment to ocean protection," said Teri Shore, a campaign
director at the Bluewater Network, which advocates for reducing pollution
from cruise ships. "We'll have to wait and see."
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