MBNMS RAP Meeting Summary November 19th, 2004

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

MBNMS RAP Meeting Summary November 19th, 2004

Host: Hopkins Marine Station

In Attendance:

Institution Representatives

• Chris Harrold, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Chair
• Andrew DeVogelaere, MBNMS, RAP Coordinator
• Greg Cailliet, Moss Landing Marine Labs
• George Somero, Hopkins Marine Station
• Michael Field, USGS
• Steve Moore, CSUMB
• Mark Stephenson, CDFG/Mar.Pollution Studies Lab
• Caroline Pomeroy, UCSC
• Francisco Chavez, MBARI
• Robin Tokmakian, Naval Postgraduate School
• Charles Paull, MBARI

Guests

• Becky Stamski, MBNMS

PRESENTATIONS

Institutional Update: Hopkins Marine Station (George Somero)

George Somero gave a presentation highlighting the unique, 112-year history of Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station, including many photographs of the lab through the decades. There are 9 faculty members at Hopkins Marine Station, teaching both undergraduate and graduate classes; descriptions of the various research projects underway at Hopkins are available at: http://www-marine.stanford.edu/.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

RAP vice-chair nominations (Chris Harrold)

RAP members were reminded to send in nominations for vice-chair to Chris by November 26th.

Replacement of Steve Eittreim as USGS RAP representative (Mike Field)

Steve Eittreim (USGS) is resigning as RAP member. Mike Field recommends Curt Storlazzi to replace Steve. Curt is a coastal oceanographer, with experience working in the Monterey Bay and an interest in MPAs. RAP members supported Mike’s recommendation and Andrew DeVogelaere will follow up with the USGS to confirm this recommendation.

Announcement of upcoming SAC meeting (Chris Harrold)

Next SAC meeting is December 3rd, 2004. Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary will be there, as part of the Northern Management Area resolution process. The question of developing separate RAPs for Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Banks NMSs was posed, and Chris will bring this up at the December 3rd SAC meeting.

Announcement of discharge regulations that are impacting Hopkins Marine Station (George Somero)

The CA Water Resource Control Board told Hopkins Marine Station that discharge into “areas of special biological significance,” such as Hopkins Marine Refuge, is not allowed, as established by the CA Ocean Policy. This will affect both Hopkins and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Hopkins will have to apply for an exception to this rule so that its seawater labs can continue to function. This will also be an issue for cities that have storm drainage into these areas.

Sign-up for next year’s RAP meetings

A draft 2005 RAP schedule was passed around to attendees to host meetings for next year. Becky Stamski will email the calendar out to the RAP to fill in remaining dates.

Continuing evaluation of the RAP: Understanding the needs and expectations of the MBNMS and the NMS Program as they relate to the RAP (Chris Harrold)

Members agreed that in order to increase the transfer of information from the RAP and SAC to institutions and the public, RAP members should disseminate meeting notes and ideas to their home institutions.

It was agreed that the RAP should serve as the objective, impartial body that can address the Sanctuary’s scientific issues by giving advice and information. The National Research Council’s science panel was highlighted as a model that the RAP could emulate.

The RAP should continue to be a source of peer review for MBNMS research.

Andrew DeVogelaere introduced a draft compilation of research questions, derived from the MBNMS Joint Management Plan (JMP). The Sanctuary staff wants the RAP to address these questions. The final version of this document, after the RAP reviews it, will likely serve as the Sanctuary Research Plan for the next 5 years. Priority action plans in the JMP, were identified as: Beach Closers, Special MPAs, Bottom Trawling, Interpretive Facilities, WQPP Implementation, Ecosystem Monitoring (SIMoN), and Coastal Armoring.

Becky Stamski will email these questions to all RAP members. RAP members are encouraged to read over the questions, while referencing the JMP, and make comments on errors or omissions they see. A more formal review of this document will take place in the early part of next year.

Continuing evaluation of the RAP: Understand the needs and expectations of institutions and individuals that are represented on the RAP, as they relate to the RAP.

It was agreed that it is a priority to have social scientists involved and included on the RAP, with the suggestion that a marine policy representative be added.

A suggestion was made that rather than having members by institution, members could be added based on expertise with specific action plans for the Sanctuary.

A debate took place to determine if the RAP is more a place for networking among area scientists versus a panel to provide advice to the Sanctuary’s research team. While it was noted that these two roles are not mutually exclusive, no conclusive agreements were established.

Additional recommendations for restructuring RAP meetings

Several members voiced interest in having some sort of thematic approach to upcoming meetings, based on specific action plans in the MBNMS JMP. There was opposition to having the meetings being entirely thematic (e.g. an entire meeting focused on coastal armoring or MPAs), but that after the institutional updates, an “Action Plan Update” could be included. Outside scientists with expertise in that particular action plan could be encouraged to attend pertinent RAP meeting.

Other suggestions included: reduce the number of RAP meetings to increase and focus the functionality of the RAP; have meetings on weekend days; and include video/telephone conferencing for members that are far away.

Summary of RAP review discussion

Chris Harrold and MBNMS staff will work together to summarize this RAP review conversation. This summary will be finalized at the January meeting to implement new RAP protocols and policies