MBNMS RAP Meeting Summary March 9th, 2012

Research Activity Panel:
Meeting Summary
Chris Harrold, RAP Chair

Location:

USGS Coaastal and Marine Geology
Pacific Science Center
400 Natural Bridges Drive
Santa Cruz, CA

Date: Friday, March 9th, 2012; 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

* Sanctuary Advisory Council Member: Research (Primary)

† Sanctuary Advisory Council Member: Research (Alternate)

CONSENT ITEMS

Introductions/Modifications to the Agenda (Harrold)

HOST PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION

Research Update from U.S. Geological Survey (Storlazzi)

• Storlazzi introduced several USGS staff, who then provided updates
• Robert Rosenbauer (Center Director, Pacific Coastal Marine Science Center)
  • Provided brief overview of research activities in California, Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Pacific Islands
• Larry Freeman (Field Office Chief, California Water Science Center, Santa Cruz)
  • Provided brief overview of water quality and sediment monitoring
  • 45 stream gages monitor water quality and collect sediment
  • 21 agencies provide 60-100% support of 44 gages
  • Station info and data available at: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis
• Josh Adams
  • Provided brief overview of seabird studies (Biologist, Western Ecological Research Center) including:
    • Distribution, abundance, and habitat use
    • Pacific continental shelf environment assessment (PaCSEA)
    • Movements and migration of Sooty Shearwaters
    • Biology (diet, health, foraging behavior)
    • Habitat restoration
      • Channel Island National Park (CINMS)
      • Ano Nuevo Island (MBNMS)
      • West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz (MBNMS)
    • www.werc.usgs.gov

SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL UPDATE

SAC Update: February 2012 Meeting in Carmel (Harrold)

• Harrold provided highlights on SAC meeting
  • Public comment: big wave surfers want regulations relaxed on motorized personal watercraft (MPWC);
    • MPWCs are allowed in 4 zones within the sanctuary year round, and seasonally during specific wave conditions at Mavericks
    • The regulation (in effect since 2008) is not currently under review or re-consideration
    • http://montereybay.noaa.gov/resourcepro/resmanissues/mpwc.html
  • Susan Ashcraft (CDFG) provided update on Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), including monitoring, and education and outreach effort
    • March 2011 workshop hosted by CDFG on MPAs and collaborative research (proceedings: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/mfig.asp)
    • 5-year review of central coast MPAs will be released in fall 2012; public symposium will be held in early 2013 to present results; formal review process by Fish and Game Commission in late 2013
    • http://www.dfg.ca.gov/MLPA/
  • Oren Frey gave presentation on "Local Catch Monterey" a community supported fishery in Santa Cruz and Monterey
    • http://www.localcatchmontereybay.com/
  • MBNMS staff provided update on EBM Initiative
    • Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) review in progress by Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC)
      • MBNMS is engaged in process and seeking input from working group
      • PFMC met last week; EFH review schedule has been extended 6 months; therefore MBNMS open house rescheduled for April 10th
  • SAC Members Shester and Webb led discussion on ONMS Site Evaluation List
    • List deactivated in 1990s
    • There is interest in reactivating list
    • Shester and Webb drafted letter for SAC signature to NOAA (Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of NOAA)
    • SAC not in consensus, and tabled the topic for future meeting
• SAC agenda: http://montereybay.noaa.gov/sac/2012/120216/agenda.html

ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE

Risk Assessment for the California Current Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (Phil Levin and Jameal Samhouri/NWFSC, NOAA)

• Levin provided overview of Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA)
  • Scoping: If money available in 2012, scoping in Monterey will occur in 2012
  • Timeline: First version of IEA will be available at end of 2013 (if President's budget approved)
  • http://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/iea/california.html
• Samhouri provided overview of Risk Assessment, currently in progress
  • Presented, and requested feedback on, risk framework, focal pressures, habitats, species, and data sources
  • ACTION: Jameal asked RAP to participate in Google Doc Risk Assessment Survey
    • NOAA Fisheries (or MBNMS) staff will send out invite (March/April)
    • RAP should recommend other participants
    • Workshop to discuss results will be held in September/October

SUGGESTED FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

• FYI regarding Climate Change agenda item: Storlazzi and partners (Adina Abeles and Larry Crowder, Center for Ocean Solutions) will be holding small workshop in May (climate change on west coast; n=10); follow-up meeting will be held to present results

Future Agenda Items (running list):

• Marine Policy issues (Sacramento; D.C.) that may need science input
• Climate Change
  • Storlazzi and Abeles are willing to organize a 1-2 day meeting on climate change science; adaptation plans
  • RAP to provide input on meeting topics, speakers, format
• Desalination update: including Cambria
• RAP Membership update