PART
III: ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
III.
Section: Management Alternatives
A. Introduction [Part III TOC]
Three management alternatives were identified and considered in terms of (1) resource protection, research, and education requirements, and (2) cost-effectiveness. The Management Plan (Part V) includes a detailed discussion of the proposed Sanctuary management regime regarding resource protection, research, education and administration.
B. Alternatives [Part III TOC]
1. Status Quo [Part III TOC]
Under this alternative protection and management of the proposed Sanctuary area would remain entirely under the existing regime of federal, state and local authorities, and existing research and eduction facilities and programs with no NOAA presence.
2. Sanctuary Management Alternative 1 [Part III TOC]
Under this alternative, NOAA would establish an independent management and administrative system for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in a headquarters that is managed and operated directly by NOAA. The location of the headquarters would be in the Monterey Bay region at either Santa Cruz, Moss Landing or Monterey.
This alternative would gradually phase in a variety of program activities and focus initially on research and education. Staffing would start with a NOAA manager and phase in an assistant manager, administrative assistant, research coordinator, education coordinator and a joint position of an interpreter/enforcement official.
The office would coordinate directly and actively with other state and local agencies in decision making and implementation of Sanctuary regulations. The Sanctuary Manager and the Advisory Committee would begin the process of informing the public as well as regional officials of the Sanctuary's mandate, regulations and research and education programs.
3. Sanctuary Management Alternative 2 (Preferred)
The preferred alternative is to set up the Sanctuary headquarters soon after designation (within six months) and immediately provide full-staffing in the positions described for Sanctuary Management Alternative 1. In addition, the preferred option is to provide "satellite" information centers as well as the main headquarters facility so that other areas of the Sanctuary are represented such as Pillar Point Harbor and Half Moon Bay
Part III Table of Contents