MBNMS Business and Tourism Activity Panel (BTAP) Minutes January 21st, 2004

Meeting Date: Wednesday, January 21st, 2004
Time: 9:30-11:30 AM

Location: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Attendance:

• Dave Ebert, BTAP Chair, SAC Business/Industry Representative
• Nicole Capps, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Rachel Saunders, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Michael Bekker, Cannery Row Company, Monterey
• Dan Haifley, O’Neill Sea Odyssey

Meeting Notes – a Brief Summary of the Meeting’s Proceedings.

Welcome and Introductions: Dave E., BTAP Chair gave welcoming comments and individual introductions commenced.

Items Not on the Agenda/Announcements: None identified

BTAP Nomination for AMBAG/Sanctuary Currents Business Award: Dan H. reviewed his suggestion that the Cannery Row Company be nominated for the award. Dave E. indicated that he would send out a notice by email to other BTAP members to get their input. He will then forward on the nomination to Rachel S. who will send it on to AMBAG.

December 2003 Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting Review: Dave E. gave a brief overview of the December 5, 2003 meeting and Nicole C. gave a brief preview of the upcoming February 6, 2004 meeting. Rachel S. reported on the deliberations of the SAC membership subcommittee chaired by SAC member Deborah Streeter. The subcommittee is reviewing the self-assessment questionnaires filled out by SAC members and will report some of their findings at the next SAC meeting. Rachel also briefly summarized the joint Gulf of the Farallones/Monterey Bay NMS SAC boundary workshop in Half Moon Bay held on December 4, 2003 by the National Marine Sanctuary Program Headquarters. For more information on the SAC meetings, please see

http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/jointplan/cc_bndy.html
http://montereybay.noaa.gov/sac/2003/120503/agenda.html
http://montereybay.noaa.gov/sac/2003/120503/sacmin.html

Brief Updates/News Items:

• SAC Recruitment: Rachel S. gave an update on recruitment efforts to fill open Sanctuary Advisory Council seats for agriculture, fishing, recreation, research, conservation, business and at-large representatives.
• February 5 Marine Wildlife Viewing Workshop: Rachel S. explained that the focus of this workshop was to bring together sanctuary user groups to discuss issues pertaining to responsibly viewing marine wildlife. She indicated that the sanctuary program really wanted feedback on approaches and educational materials from ocean-based recreational organizations, businesses and their clients (whale watching and sightseeing vessel operators, dive shops, dive vessel operators, kayak shops and guides, small aircraft operators, etc). The workshop in Monterey was one of four workshops being held in California to solicit input and also get comments on a draft handbook produced by the national program called “Responsibly Watching California’s Marine Wildlife: A Handbook for Ocean Users.” Rachel distributed flyers announcing the workshop. A copy of the flyer had also been sent to the BTAP and other MBNMS list serves. The MBNMS had sent out an invitation letter to over 50 key businesses and organizations and was following up with phone calls. The draft handbook can be downloaded at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/library/library.html
• March 6, 2004 MBNMS Symposium: Rachel S. passed out posters for this year’s Sanctuary Symposium entitled “Clean Waters, Healthy Oceans.” This year’s event will focus on water quality issues affecting the sanctuary and will include information on sources of pollution, impacts and how citizens can get involved. For more information, see the MBNMS web site at http://montereybay.noaa.gov
• Fishermen’s Fiesta: Rachel S. announced that the MBNMS was working with members of the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries, the City of Monterey, and the Maritime Museum to plan a “Fishermen’s Fiesta” for June 5 in Monterey. The event will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wharf #2 and will feature booths and educational exhibits on fishing activities and open house tours of fishing boats. This is part of the MBNMS’s JMPR action plan to involve the fishing community in developing programs that enhance education of the public about fishing in the sanctuary. For more information, contact Liz Love at liz.love@noaa.gov

BTAP Schedule, Goals and Issues for 2004:
The group reviewed proposed meeting dates for 2004 and agreed to the following schedule:

• March 17 in Monterey
• May 19 in Santa Cruz
• June 16 in Monterey
• September 15 in Santa Cruz
• November 17 in Monterey

Dave E. suggested that the group meet in June and skip the July and August meeting as it is difficult to get people to attend during the busy summer months. The group felt it was important to try again to alternate meetings between Santa Cruz and Monterey to see if that helps with attendance and recruitment. Dan H. said he would contact the Santa Cruz County CVC to see if the BTAP could hold its Santa Cruz meetings at their office on Ocean Ave. Mike Bekker offered to see if the BTAP could hold its Monterey meetings at the Cannery Row Company. There was also a brief discussion on the unresolved issue of membership protocols. The group agreed that protocols were needed and that the BTAP should adopt something more formal. Protocols could include spelling out how many meetings a member/member organization would have to attend to be considered a member; a rule that member organizations would only have one vote; some kind of policy on proxy votes; and ability to respond by email. The membership protocol/voting discussion will be continued at the next meeting, along with identifying what the BTAP would like to accomplish in 2004.

Next BTAP Meeting: The next BTAP meeting is March 17, 2004 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Cannery Row Company, Board Room at 765 Wave Street in Monterey.