MBNMS RAP Meeting Summary January 10th, 2003

Research Activity Panel Meeting Summary
Chris Harrold, Monterey Bay Aquarium, RAP Chair

JANUARY 2003 RAP MEETING

Host: National Marine Fisheries Service, Santa Cruz Laboratory
Friday, January 10, 2003 9am-12pm

In Attendance:

Members

• Chris Harrold, Monterey Bay Aquarium - Chair
  
• Andrew DeVogelaere, MBNMS – RAP Coordinator
  
• Greg Cailliet, Moss Landing Marine Labs
• Mike Field, USGS
  
• Churchill Grimes, NOAA/NMFS
• Mark Carr, UCSC
  
• Rick Starr, UC Sea Grant
  
• Aaron King, MPA Center
  
• Caroline Pomeroy, UCSC
  
• Leslie Rosenfield, NPS
  
• Kerstin Wasson, ESNERR
  
• Geoff Wheat, NOAA/NURP

Guests

• Erica Burton, MBNMS
  
• Kelly Newton, UCSC
  
• Jean de Marignac, MBNMS
  
• Jennifer Parkin, MBNMS
  
• Lydia Bergen, UCSC/PISCO
• Dave Ebert, Pacific Shark Research Center/MLML
• Brad Damitz, MBNMS
• Steve Ralston, NMFS
• Gary Griggs, UCSC

PRESENTATIONS

Institutional Update: National Marine Fisheries Service (Churchill Grimes & Steve Ralston)

Churchill Grimes: Southwest Anadromous Salmonids Programs with NMFS

Churchill gave an overview of the anadromous salmonid research initiatives at the Santa Cruz NMFS labs. Current efforts are focused on identifying natural and anthropogenic threats, otolith microstructure and chemistry to identify stocks and runs, molecular genetics and ecology, ESU assignment for steelhead populations, Coho salmon captive broodstock and salmonid economic studies. Ongoing programs to determine salmonid distribution in California will be used to provide a comprehensive inventory of past and current restoration activities. See NMFS web site at (http://www.pfeg.noaa.gov/) for more information.

Steve Ralston: The Groundfish Crisis: What Went Wrong?

Steve reviewed the regulatory framework for west coast groundfish stocks and the fisheries modeling strategies that have been used to manage west coast rockfish. Rockfish productivity factors used in early models were too low, primarily because they did not incorporate stochastic environmental effects, especially years of exceptionally low productivity. The result was setting allowable catches that could not be supported by the population. Revisions have been made to the model that reflect lower productivity parameters. Steve concludes that the PFMC was acting responsibly with the best available science, but the scientific information did not reflect actual conditions.

DISCUSSION

Brad Damitz: Joint Management Plan Review Update: Issues and Working Groups

Brad updated the RAP on the process the sanctuary is going through for the management plan review. There are five cross-cutting issues with Cordell Bank and Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuaries. These include: administration, boundary issues, community outreach, ecosystem monitoring, and submerged cultural resources. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary has site specific issues which can be found in the hand out or on the web page (http://www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/jointplan/). Working groups have been formed and interested parties invited to give comments and input at meetings held about once a month until March or April.

The following is a list of the topics that the RAP would like to stay informed about: Coastal armoring, dredge disposal, submerged cables, benthic habitat, Davidson Seamount, emerging issues (pertaining to ecosystem protection), incorporating fishing issues into education and research plans, marine reserves, exotic species, desalination, and wildlife disturbance (marine mammal/seabird, motorized personal watercraft, and tidepool issues).

The RAP felt strongly that Invasive Species should be included as a management plan issue. The RAP agreed that Chris Harrold write a letter from the RAP to Superintendent Douros to indicate RAP’s interest in the invasive species issues. Several RAP members also had suggestions for participants on working groups and were encouraged to provide their thoughts to the MBNMS staff leading the respective working groups.

INFORMATION ITEMS

OCEAN.US Coastal Observing Systems Workshop (Leslie Rosenfeld)

Leslie Rosenfeld brought up that OCEAN.US is sponsoring by invitation only a planning workshop for coastal observing systems. They have determined that nominations for the invitation are how people can participate at the workshop. At this time they only have the southern California and Pacific Northwest regions listed (they have skipped northern California). Chris and other RAP members will sign a letter nominating Francisco Chavez to represent this region.

Update on Sanctuary Currents 2003 (Jennifer Parkin)

The four nominees for the Science/Research Award are: Rikk Kvitek, CSUMB, Chris Scholin, MBARI, James Harvey, MLML, and Mark Carr, UCSC. Please send in votes by January 16, 2003 to jennifer.parkin@noaa.gov.

There are two nominees for the Ricketts Memorial Lecturer, Jim Estes and Jeremy Jackson; these will be put to a vote as soon as the write ups are finished.

Sanctuary Currents Symposium 2003 needs scientific abstracts. These are due by January 15th. Please contact Kelly Newton at Newton@biology.ucsc.edu.

Sanctuary Currents 2003: Threatened and Thriving Species: Lessons from the Sea will be on Saturday, March 15th at CSUMB from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Presentations will be: Jellyfish of Monterey Bay: The Most Visible Members of Our Gelatinous Fauna (Kevin Raskhoff, MBARI); Leatherback Turtles: Threatened species in a Thriving Ecosystem (Scott Benson, NMFS); California’s Sea Otters: Sentinels For Biological Pollution (Melissa Miller, CDFG and UC Davis); Status and Conservation of the Snowy Plover (Kriss Neuman, PRBO); Krill: Constant Currency in a Fluctuating Pelagic Economy (Baldo Marinovic, UCSC); Charting the Sanctuary’s Future: The Management Plan Review (William Douros, MBNMS)

Steve Eittriem from USGS is retiring and Andrew DeVogelaere will develop a way to recognize him for his long service and efforts to support the RAP.