MBNMS RAP Meeting Summary August 12th, 2005

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

MBNMS RAP Meeting Summary August 12th, 2005

Host: Monterey Bay Aquarium

In Attendance:

Institution Representatives

• Chris Harrold (Chair), Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Andrew DeVogelaere (RAP Coordinator), MBNMS
• Greg Cailliet, MLML
• Mark Carr, UCSC
• Charles Paull, MBARI
• Robin Tokmakian, NPS
• Ellen Faurot-Daniels, CA Coastal Commission
• Curt Storlazzi, USGS
• Gary Sharp, Center for Climate/Ocean Resources Study

Guests:

• Erica Burton, MBNMS
• Jean de Marignac , MBNMS
• Deirdre Hall, MBNMS
• Jan Roletto, GFNMS
• Jonna Engel, CINMS

QUICK DECISIONS

• RAP would like the title of the "RAP Interests" list serve changed to "Sanctuary Research Interests"
• RAP barbecue will be held at ESNERR at noon on September 9, and will be hosted by MBNMS/SIMoN

PRESENTATIONS

Aquarium's new white shark conservation research initiative (Chris Harrold)

• The focus of the initiative is white shark movement, foraging and genetics, and physiology
• It is intended to influence relevant fishery policies (e.g., bycatch in gillnets)
• This initiative is a collaboration between the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Tuna Research and Conservation Center at Hopkins Marine Station
• $ 500,000 in funds are available for the project, to be led by Barbara Block of Stanford.

Monterey Accelerated Research System Cabled Observatory (Charles Paull)

• The proposed MARS would include a 62 km fiber optic cable, from Moss Landing along the northern rim of the Monterey Bay canyon and down Smooth Ridge. It would provide power to the deep sea for an estimated 25-year life span. The web site for this project is http://www.mbari.org/mars/
• Reasons to locate the cable in Monterey Bay include: educated community regarding marine issues; many research institutions regionally available; year round and fast access to the cable; accessible daily by ROV
• A primary objective of the project is to develop and test technology for developing larger cabled observatories
• The project would provide long term observation records of the deep sea and open ocean, and would provide public education opportunities
• Among the research outcomes and benefits, Andrew noted that results from the MARS project are directly relevant to several aspects of the MBNMS Draft Management Plan, including:
  • Basic characterization of habitats and development of ocean observatories as outlined in the SIMoN Action Plan
  • Shallow observations related to the of CalCOFI project as described in the Cross-Cutting, Ecosystem Monitoring Action Plan
  • Water quality monitoring as described in the Water Quality Protection Program Implementation Action Plan, Section II
  • A better understanding of sediment movement in the Monterey Bay Canyon, as related to dredging impacts and sand budget aspects of the Coastal Armoring and Harbors and Dredge Disposal Action Plans
  • Support of the Submerged Cables Action Plan with habitat characterization and potential impact studies of the cable itself
  • Potentially for information related to the effectiveness of marine reserves as described in the Special Marine Protected Areas Action Plan
  • Passively measuring sound to support needs in the Wildlife Disturbance Action Plan
  • Support for the Sanctuary mandate for ocean education, including opportunities for distance/interactive learning
  • Support for the Sanctuary mandate of regional research facilitation, as many institutions would have access to use the cable for instrumentation and access to data
  • Support the NOAA Hazard Warning program (including for tsunamis) by providing the only networked seismometer on the Pacific Plate
• RAP members will individually decide if they want to send comment letters on the proposed project to the MBNMS, by August 29.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Science guidance on Sanctuary permit issues (Mark Carr)

• The RAP felt there should be an outreach program for the science community-What is the Sanctuary permit program?
• Some RAP members commented that the Sanctuary staff are effective at a quick turn-around time for research permits, and that the process is not as onerous as some assume
• Some RAP members wondered what the role of the RAP was in the decision process related to permitting research; currently the MBNMS staff has a list of subject expert scientists they use for reviews and the RAP can be accessed for broader scale advice on a case by case basis (this happened more in the early days of the MBNMS)
• While the RAP expressed interest in a greater involvement in the research permit review process, the RAP also expressed desire for a briefing by MBNMS staff on the policy foundation for research in the MBNMS, the requirement for research permits and the research permit process
• This discussion will continue at future meetings

Agriculture drainage discharge into nearshore marine waters- a request from the SAC (Chris Harrold)

• The SAC requested input from the RAP on the marine disposal of agriculture discharge from the Central Valley. The comment period on this project has been extended to September 1
• Chris Harrold will request input from Dave Epel, Rusty Fairy, and Mark Stephenson to develop a response to this project and forward the information to the SAC

Past, Current, and Future Agenda Items

• Status of research permits in the sanctuary
• Update from John Stephens, Adjunct Professor at Cal Poly, on his southern MBNMS (Cambria) studies
• Membership discussion
• R/V Fulmar
• Effectiveness of regional water management programs
• Agriculture drainage follow-up
• Update on the draft MBNMS Action Plan on bottom trawling
• Status of the Ocean Observatory system
• Implementation of the new RAP Purpose and Protocols
• Marine reserves and MLPA update