Brian's right, your facts are wrong.

The NFWF www.nfwf.org is one of the environmental groups behind the MLPA. I'm not sure how radical they are, but it's obvious that they are completely behind the MLPA (which may not be an entirely bad thing if used wisely). So far they've granted almost $50,000 to the MLPA induction process. The CA Legislature passed the MLPA without having ANYTHING to do with the DFG. Now they've basically dumped this new law on the DFG to figure out how to put into action.

The NRDC www.nrdc.org is another group which had donated large sums of money which paid for many of the MLPA public workshops and was one of the original backers of this bill when it was first vetoed by Gov Wilson in 1999. Here's some text straight from their website:

In the 1998 legislative session, NRDC helped usher through the legislature a bill to set up a network of marine protected areas, only to see it vetoed by former Governor Wilson. In the 1999 session, Assemblyman Kevin Shelley reintroduced the bill in the California Assembly as A.B. 993, the Marine Life Protection Act. The bill passed both the Assembly and the Senate with bipartisan support. With a new administration in California, a legislature lead by environmental supporters, and widespread support for efforts to ensure that fish and marine animals thrive, NRDC is optimistic that the Marine Life Protection Act has a good chance of becoming law in 1999.

Now, you tell me who's behind this law? The DFG? I don't think so. Look at all the ADDITIONAL work they have to do now with NO ADDITIONAL FUNDING (that part was line item VETOED by Gov Davis). The DFG would not have done something so drastic, something that adversely effects so many of their "customers."

TL,
Adam