MBNMS SAC Meeting Minutes August 21st, 2009

MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

FINAL
August 21st, 2009
Cabrillo College
Aptos, CA

The following non-voting members were present as indicated:

• Monterey Bay NMS: Paul Michel
• US Coast Guard: LTJG Brittany Steward
• Gulf of the Farallones NMS Liason: Bob Wilson

Alternates present in audience:

• Commercial Fishing: Tom Canale
• Conservation: Steve Shimek
• Diving: Randy Herz
• Monterey Bay NMS: Karen Grimmer
• Recreation: Rexford Keyes
• Research: John Hunt

APPROVAL OF 6/19/09 DRAFT MEETING NOTES

The advisory council passed the June 19, 2009 meeting minutes with a few editorial comments provided by Paul Reilly.

MOTION: (Passed)

Motion introduced by Stephany Aguilar, seconded by Kathy Fosmark.
(Vote: 13 in favor, 0 opposed, 2 abstentions)

The following members of the public provided comments to the advisory council: Terri Shore (Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtles and potential longline fishery and impact to Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtles); Don Heichel (artificial reefs and Alabama (Auburn University), fishing partnerships); Steve Shimek (Salinas River Channel maintenance plan); Steve Scheiblauer (Community Fishing Associations and the Nature Conservancy, Monterey City Council to pass resolution to ask MBNMS for guidance on the placement of clean dredge material); Bob Wilson (Update on recent Gulf of the Farallones NMS Advisory Council meeting).

Paul Michel, Superintendent, explained that due to the State of California budget situation all state agencies are furloughed the first three Fridays of the month. For this reason the advisory council would need to move the date of their meetings to accommodate state agencies attendance.

After some discussion the advisory council decided to move their meetings to the fourth Thursday of every other month, with the December meeting being the second Thursday of the month to avoid the holidays.

Frank Degnan, Diving primary, provided background on the last Charter subcommittee meeting. The subcommittee made changes to the charter per comments received by advisory council members at the December 2008 advisory council meeting.

After some discussion the Advisory Council voted to accept the proposed changes to the Charter.

Motion: (Passed)

Motion introduced by Kaitilin Gaffney, seconded by PJ Webb.
(11 in favor, 3 opposed, 0 abstentions)

Dayna Matthews, NOAA Office for Law Enforcement, provided an update on the Enforcement Working Group.

Lisa Uttal, MBNMS Education and Outreach Specialist, provided a presentation on the Voices of the Bay and the Fishermen in the Classroom programs. Mrs. Uttal’s powerpoint presentation may be viewed here.

Lisa Uttal provided an update on the Sanctuary Exploration Center. She announced there would be a sign unveiling event at the future location of the Exploration Center on September 19. Mrs. Uttal’s powerpoint presentation may be viewed here.

Paul Michel provided the future plan for the MBNMS MPA process.

Steve Scheiblauer, Harbors, provided a presentation on two public opinion polls commissioned by the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries.

Kaitilin Gaffney, Conservation, provided a presentation on various other opinion polls conducted and also highlighted items from the two reports commissioned by the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries.

Both opinion polls and powerpoint presentations may be viewed here.

Mat Fuzie, CA State Parks, provided information on the potential for state park closures due to budget cuts. A cut list and a list of partial closures are in the works.

Mike Dawson, At-large, announced the Fishermen’s Festival at the Maritime Museum will take place all weekend.

Deborah Streeter, At-large, recognized Dave Danbom, past Diving representative on the advisory council, and Brian O’Neill, Director of the Golden Gate Recreational Area, who both recently passed away. She also noted that Frank Degnan, current Diving representative, was relating to a death of a diver at Monastery Beach yesterday.

PJ Webb-announced that on the morning of September 19th there will be a pier to point kayak fundraiser for the North Coast Ocean Rescue.

Michael Bekker, Tourism, announced Cannery Row Company purchased a derelict boat that is now in front of the Sardine Factory. The hotel and restaurant industries are coming together, along with MRSWMP, for a workshop on storm drain pollution prevention at the Hyatt Regency on August 27.

Kaitilin Gaffney announced the large whales in distress response and reporting card is being distributed to businesses/users in the area.

Kirk Schmidt, Agriculture, announce the Young Farmers and Ranchers at Casterley Range is having their first ever Testicle Festival at 5 p.m. on August 23rd.

Paul Michel announced there would be no meeting in Cambria this year due to a poor budget. He also encouraged members to attend the Exploration Center sign unveiling event on September 19th. He announced that the MBNMS would have a booth at the Fishermen’s Festival that Mike Dawson mentioned. He announced there was a new boat being tested out by the MBNMS for the next three months, a 41 footer. Paul also suggested that the protocol for future public comment at advisory council meetings would be to give members of the public three minutes per person. These individual comments would say what they have to say and the advisory council is not engaged in a discussion about any of these comments. When all speakers are done the advisory council will decide if there is anything they want to hear more about at a future meeting.

Chris Harrold announced that the “Secret Lives of Seahorses” exhibit is the highest rating exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and encourages everyone to see it. He also announced the Aquarium in 2010 will open an exhibit called “Hot Pink Flamingos: Stories of Hope” and is based on climate change.

Kathy Fosmark, Commercial Fishing, announced that Dave Danbom passed away in July and she attended his service. He was an important asset to the fishing community. He also shed a lot of light on some historical information and facts we are dealing with today.

Mat Fuzie announced a new program this last summer to get kids outdoors called Kids Adventure. At Pt. Lobos, the lifeguard program is going stronger then ever and a lot has to do with kids having a great time and parents supporting them being out in the environment.

Steve Clark, Education, announced the Sanctuary Education Panel meeting was at Pt. Lobos and they received great instruction on geology of the park. The next meeting will be September 17 at the Beach Boardwalk.

Steve Scheiblauer also recognized Dave Danbom and commented on how he was the go to person for Panetta and Farr. He shared some stories about Dave’s life.

Rex Keyes, Recreation, announced he has started getting interested in boating. He found a magazine that promotes ocean literacy called “A Change in Tide”. They put out about 5,000 issues quarterly and it goes to harbors and yacht clubs. The central coast section shows marine protected areas with a map from the Ocean Conservancy. It even mentions the MBNMS.

Bonnie Van Hise, Congressman Farr’s office, announced Congress passed the Sea Otter Bill before they broke for recess.

Potential future agenda items:
Longline fishing and leatherback sea turtles
Artifical reefs-Alabama (Dec. meeting)
Fishing partnerships
Beach Closures/Runoff pollution (Dec. meeting)
Salmon Recovery
Marine Debris Removal Program-Fishermen Impact Study (Dec. meeting)

NEXT MEETING: October 22nd, 2009 in Watsonville
The meeting adjourned at 3:41 p.m.

Submitted by
Nicole Capps
Sanctuary Advisory Council Coordinator