Jul 3
2011
Marine preservation proposal would allow Indian tribal harvests
By Matt WeiserAmerican Indian tribes on California’s North Coast will retain the right to harvest plants and wildlife for subsistence purposes under a plan for new marine preserves north of Fort Bragg.
The California Fish and Game Commission, meeting in Stockton on Wednesday, approved the subsistence gathering language as its preferred option for additional environmental study.
Though not yet final, it indicates a major shift in state policy toward coastal protection.
“I hope if one thing comes out of this process, it’s the beginning of long-term trust between sovereign tribal governments and the state of California,” said John Laird, secretary of the state’s Natural Resources Agency.
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