The California Fish and Game Commission is holding a special meeting next week to consider the possible extension of the public comment period for the South Coast region Draft Environmental Impact Report as part of the Marine Life Protection Act.

The report, which was released Aug. 18, analyzes the potential environmental effects of the marine protected area proposals currently under consideration for this area. The report was given a 45-day review and comment period.

"The DEIR is a 548-page document that addresses a number of complex environmental issues that require careful consideration. The recreational fishing and boating community believes that it is imperative that the FGC extend this to a 90-day period to provide the public with sufficient time to review and comment on this report," KeepAmericaFishing.org reports.

"Decisions made under the MLPA process, including the DEIR, will have significant and long-lasting consequences for angling and boating in the region," the group adds. "The public deserves enough time to carefully review and provide input on the DEIR to ensure it is as comprehensive, informative and accurate as possible and is not driven by a need to meet arbitrary deadlines."