MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL Conservation Working Group Meeting Minutes July 15, 1997 Conservation Working Group (CWG) members in attendance were: Rachel Saunders, Chair (Center for Marine Conservation); Milos Radakovich (BAY NET); Jack Wickham (Sierra Club-Ventana Chapter); David Iverson (Save Our Shores); Vicki Nichols (Save Our Shores); Ellen Farout-Daniels (Friends of the Sea Otter); and Liz Love and Lisa Ziobro (Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary). Guests in attendance were: Susan Hiestand and Susan Giles (Save Our Shores). I. CWG Administration A. There were no comments on the previous meeting minutes. B. General Announcements: · The next CWG meeting is scheduled for September 16, 1997 from 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM at the Moss Landing Harbor District Office. There will be no August CWG meeting. · The next Vessel Traffic Work Group Meeting is scheduled for July 29, 1997 in Santa Cruz. · The next Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting is scheduled for August 1, 1997 in Cambria. · A Working Group Barbecue is scheduled for August 8, 1997 from Noon - 1:00 PM at Long Marine Laboratory, followed by a tour of the new Oiled Wildlife Facility at Long Marine Laboratory. · The American Fisheries Society Meeting is scheduled for August 25-28 in Monterey. · The SanctuaryÕs Fifth Birthday Celebrations are scheduled for September 14, 1997 in Monterey and September 20, 1997 in Santa Cruz. II. MBNMS Office Report Liz Love gave the MBNMS office report. Highlights are contained in the attached MBNMS Monthly Activity Report for June 1997. The following items were not included in the written report: · The role of the Co-Management Task Force has not been clarified as of yet. · Vicki Nichols requested that the Sanctuary put the LFA Project on their priority list. · State peace officers will be deputized to enforce MBNMS regulations. Vicki suggested that Santa Cruz City staff might be a good resource. · The public hearing for the jade collection rule is scheduled for July 30 at 7:00 PM in Gorda. · The new Sanctuary book published by the Monterey Bay Aquarium will be available at the end of the month. · The next SEP meeting is scheduled for July 17, 9:00 AM - Noon at MBARI. · Carol Fairfield will not filling the Superintendent position. See attached letter. Joanne Flanders will be serving as the interim manager. Discussion ensued among CWG members. No action was taken by the CWG on this matter. However, Rachel Saunders will call Carol Fairfield on the behalf of the CWG. III. SAC Membership The Sanctuary is still waiting on word from Headquarters regarding the extension of the SAC terms. Rachel Saunders requested that a decision be made soon. Stephanie Thornton is planning on announcing her decision at the upcoming SAC Retreat on July 31 in Cambria. IV. Marine Mammals/Fisheries Interactions -- 8/28/97 Forum on Human, Fisheries and Marine Mammal Interactions Vicki Nichols provided an update on the upcoming free public Forum, "The Search For Balance: Sea Lions, Salmon and People." The purpose of the forum is to share concerns, question the experts and open the dialogue on these timely and increasingly critical issues. This forum is an adjunct to the week-long annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society that takes place at the Monterey Conference Center the week of August 25, 1997. Vicki explained that the panel will be set up with eight panelists with time slots of three minutes each, then the forum will be open to discussion with public; in conclusion, problems be will summarized, presented on overheads; followed by discussion on recommendations/solutions to the problems. Vicki introduced Susan Giles as a new SOS intern working on the Forum. Rachel requested that herself, Suzanne Iudicello (CMC VP), Milos Radakovich, and Rod Fujeta of EDF be on the list of people to sit in the stakeholderÕs section of seats at the front of the room. Vicki explained that the purpose of the Forum is to give both opinions and scientific views equal weight. If AFS formally participates in the Forum, they will provide a policy statement. The Monterey Bay Aquarium will also be providing summaries on the Forum. V. Issue/Program Updates and Discussion · Underwater Park: The City of Monterey decided against setting up an independent oversight committee for the Park, and instead to designate the Parks and Recreation Commission to act as the oversight committee. The City of Pacific Grove is waiting to make its decision on the proposed Park until after it meets with the California Department of Fish and Game to clarify powers of the Cites versus the State. · Ed Cooper: Rachel will send a card to Ed on behalf of the CWG. · Jade Cove: The Supplemental EIS is available; the public hearing is scheduled for July 30 and public comments are due by August 14. · Vessel Traffic Work Group: The next meeting is scheduled for July 29 at the new Oiled Wildlife Facility at Long Marine Laboratory in Santa Cruz. · SOS Dock Walkers Program - Susan Hiestand: In October, SOS received a two-year grant to do oil education in the harbors. The Program has purchased 10,000 oil pads and set up dispensers and disposals in Santa Cruz, Moss Landing, and Monterey Harbors. The Program will pay for the hauling away of the disposed oil pads. The grant also includes an education program - Dock Walkers and consists of fourteen volunteers who hand out education kits at the harbors. The kits contain key floats, latex gloves, OSPR pamphlets, SOS newsletter covers with oil tips, pamphlets from landfills regarding the disposal of hazardous waste, flyers with a map of each harbor, and absorbent pads that will absorb about a quart of oil per pad. · CWC Urban Watch Program Update: Ten-twelve people will be working with the City of Monterey to monitor storm drains; a training session, co- sponsored by the City of Monterey and the BAY NET program, on using the test kits has already occurred. · SOS: The Sanctuary Steward Program has completed the ÒSanctuary SuitcaseÓ - a teaching tool for teachers (4th-6th grade) who want to include the Sanctuary in their curriculum. A sample ÒSuitcaseÓ will be given to a school principal to distribute to teachers as a test run. SOS has started recruiting for their next group of stewards and has submitted four grants to hire a full-time volunteer coordinator in the northern portion (San Mateo) of the Sanctuary. · BAY NET is approaching its two-year anniversary. The sixth training session starts September 24, 1997. There are currently sixty active volunteers. BAY NET orientation begins on September 4 in Monterey/Pacific Grove and September 10 in San Luis Obispo County at VeteranÕs Hall in Cambria. · Man-made sound - Michele Jacobi has completed a draft bibliography on man-made sound. The meeting adjourned at 12:55 PM. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ziobro MBNMS Advisory Council Coordinator encl. MBNMS June Activity Report Letter from Stephanie Thornton regarding Superintendent Position CWG Meeting Minutes - July 15, 1997 DRAFT 4