Chesbro: MLPA process should address the concerns of North Coast Tribes

First Assembly District

Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andrew Bird
July 21, 2010
(707) 445-7014; 498-2483


Chesbro: MLPA process should address the concerns of all resource users,
including North Coast tribes

EUREKA – Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) released the following statement today on the Yurok Tribe’s concerns over the MLPA process:

“I have repeatedly spoken out about the erosion of historic fishing access in the MLPA process for all users, including North Coast tribes.

I have met with tribal leaders in Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties and heard their message about tribal sovereignty and traditions. I support the Yurok and other tribes in asserting their traditional fishing and gathering rights. The tribes are definitely on the moral high ground, but we have to be on solid legal ground as well. The state’s legal authority in this area is grey and ambiguous. We need to make sure that whatever is done to resolve this problem will survive a legal challenge. To that end, I have sought legal advice from Legislative Counsel.

Over the past year and a half, I have communicated regularly with both the previous resources secretary and the current resources secretary, Lester Snow, to express my concerns over how the MLPA is being implemented on the North Coast, including concerns on behalf of North Coast tribes.”

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