Marine protected areas: Native American tribes.

The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) establishes the Marine Life Protection Program to reexamine and redesign California's marine protected area system. Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Game to prepare, and the Fish and Game Commission to adopt, a master plan that guides the adoption and implementation of the program, including recommended alternative networks of marine protected areas. Under the MLPA, the taking of a marine species in a marine life reserve, a type of marine protected area, is prohibited for any purpose, including recreational and commercial fishing, except as authorized by the commission for scientific purposes. This bill would authorize Native American tribes to submit proposals for comanagement of marine species within marine protected areas that are designated or proposed to be designated under the MLPA. The bill would require comanagement proposals to include prescribed information, and would require submission of the proposals to the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency. The bill would authorize the secretary to request additional information before determining that a proposal is complete, and upon receipt of a proposal from the secretary, would require the Director of Fish and Game to consult with the tribe to develop memoranda of understanding or other agreements to, among other things, provide access to the tribe for traditional hunting and gathering and cultural activities. If multiple tribal governments or groups submit proposals to the secretary, the bill would require the secretary to prioritize the proposals for negotiation, as provided.