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Summer 1999 |
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SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL
(SAC):
The Council continues to hear presentations on issues of
concern to the Sanctuary. In addition to the topics
highlighted below, these presentations have included the Cal
Trans Coast Highway management plan, Sanctuary
reauthorization, a Sanctuary penalty schedule, potential sea
otter relocation, and fisheries management legislation.
Live Fish Fishery
The SAC heard two detailed presentations on this issue
recently. This fishery targets nearshore fishes and has
increased exponentially in the past decade. Issues of
concern to the Council include the taking of immature fishes
and the need for both a determination of sustainable yields
and the creation of effective management tools, such as size
limits. The Council requested that Superintendent Douros
send a letter to the California Department of Fish and Game
(DFG) expressing concern regarding the fishery and asking
DFG to present updated data as well as its approach to this
issue to the Council this year.
Vessel Traffic Management
Council members continued through 1998 to participate in the
interagency workshops that have successfully developed a
proposed set of strategies for a vessel traffic management
system for the Sanctuary. The Council sent a letter
supporting the group's vessel traffic package to NAVSAC (the
Navigation Safety Advisory Panel to the U.S. Coast Guard)
and to NOAA in late 1998. (For further information, see page
8.)
Kelp Harvesters' Cooperative
At its December 1998 meeting the Council welcomed a
newly-signed Kelp Harvesters' Cooperative, the creation of
which the SAC had encouraged over the past two years. The
Cooperative represents six local harvesters; it also has a
Board of Governors, consisting of a harvester, a resource
manager, and a scientist.
New Members
In the fall the Council welcomed two new members: William
Raver, from Cambria, as the alternate for Chet Forrest
(At-Large) and Matthew Twisselman, from Santa Cruz, as the
alternate for Ed Brown (Tourism).
In April these new appointments were made: Conservation: Vicki Nichols (Ron Massengil, alternate); Diving: David Clayton (Ed Cooper, alternate); and Education: Patricia Clark-Gray (Rachel Saunders, alternate). Massengil and Clayton are new to the Council; the other members have been reappointed to new seats. The Council thanked retiring members Dorris Welch (Education) and Ken Lundie (Diving) for their service and Rachel Saunders for her work as Conservation representative.
Sanctuary Education Panel
(SEP):
SEP Vice-Chair Patricia Clark-Gray replaced outgoing Chair
Jeff Bryant in early 1999. The new Vice-Chair is Rachel
Saunders. Jeff will continue to be involved in the SEP and
will work on the Education Survey. This survey will
inventory existing education programs and materials used in
the Monterey Bay region for the following audiences: general
public, preschool, grades K to 6, grades 7 to 12, ages 18 to
25, educators (both in school and non-formal settings),
resource users, and decision makers.
On February 20th many SEP members were involved in the National Ocean Science Bowl at UC Santa Cruz. Mission San Jose High was the winning school.
Our monthly meetings continue to provide excellent networking and learning opportunities for members. The February 1999 meeting was hosted by the Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Sciences, at which several students presented their senior internship projects to the group. In March, George Matsumoto (MBARI) sponsored the meeting and provided training on MBARI's bathymetry GIS/CD-ROM. All attendees received a CD/ROM to use in their programs. The April meeting was held at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and Chris Hasegawa welcomed the group on behalf of CSUMB. Henrik Kibak demonstrated his use of the Internet as a teaching tool. He discussed his Sea Urchin Embryology lesson plans and his collaborative Elephant Seal Education program.
-Patricia Clark-Gray, SEP Chair
RESEARCH ACTIVITY PANEL
(RAP):
Since January 1999 the RAP has met at four institutions,
receiving research activity updates from the Sanctuary
(MBNMS), Monterey Bay Aquarium (MBA), UCSC, and the Naval
Postgraduate School.
MBNMS Ecosystem Monitoring Program
Building on the theme of ecosystem observations presented in
the 1998 MBNMS Annual Report, a comprehensive monitoring
program is being developed for the Sanctuary. A Research
Fellow, who will work at the Sanctuary to help the Sanctuary
develop its ecosystem monitoring program, is being hired by
MBARI. The RAP and others will help develop a plan by
evaluating existing monitoring efforts, gaps, and needs. In
related efforts the RAP endorsed a kelp monitoring plan,
worked on developing a regional information transfer system,
and eight RAP members participated in the Sustainable Seas
Expeditions.
National Science Plan
The RAP reviewed and commented on the first national science
plan for NOAA's Marine Sanctuaries Division.
Sanctuary Currents
Scientists presented forty research posters and eight talks
to the public at the 1999 Sanctuary Currents Symposium. This
year, Dr. H. Gary Greene of Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
earned the research award and Dr. Joseph Connell of UC Santa
Barbara gave the Ricketts Memorial Lecture.
Rockfish Ecology
The RAP participated in the West Coast Rockfish Forum, a
solution-based, multidisciplinary workshop on aspects of
rockfish life history and fisheries, co-hosted by MBA and
the Pacific Marine Conservation Council. The RAP has been
working with the California Department of Fish and Game to
identify studies that will evaluate the live fish fishery in
the Sanctuary.
-Gregor M. Cailliet, RAP Chair and Andrew DeVogelaere, MBNMS Research Coordinator
CONSERVATION WORKING GROUP
(CWG):
The CWG developed a process in 1998 to identify first- and
second-tier issues. Our highest (first-tier) priorities are
where we develop comprehensive strategies for issues that
impose a degree of threat to the Sanctuary and where we feel
we have an ability to effect change. The second-tier issues
are also important, however the group will assist in
developed strategies by other groups and will take
appropriate action as time allows. Our first-tier topics are
identified below.
Kelp Harvesting - Committee Chairs, Vicki Nichols and Jim Curland
The CWG will work with the California Fish and Game Commission as it engages in its five-year review of kelp harvesting. We are communicating with the Commission on its role in the review and are requesting that it evaluate kelp harvesting regulations, monitoring, and enforcement and look at other uses such as recreation activities and habitat needs within the kelp harvesting framework. We plan to work cooperatively with the mariculture industry to get its input and support.
Rockfish Management Plans - Committee Chairs,
Rachel Saunders and Steve Shimek
The CWG is scoping various issues, including the nearshore
live fish fishery, semicommercial party boat rockfish
fishery, and offshore commercial fishery. The group wishes
to determine what impacts these fisheries have on Sanctuary
resources and to what extent the Sanctuary may wish to
comment as management plans are developed for each
fishery.
Water Quality - Committee Chair, Sally
Smith
The CWG will work with the Sanctuary primarily on two
issues: 1) Fort Ord stormwater pipe removal and possible
water diversion to create wetlands; and 2) the
implementation of the Agricultural Water Quality Protection
Plan.
Tier two topics include tracking progress of the Vessel Traffic Work Group, sea otter management, gill net impacts, and sea lion/salmon/human interactions.
- Vicki Nichols, CWG Chair
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