RAP Policies
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Research Activity Panel
Purpose and Protocols
January 2023
Purpose of the RAP:
- Advise sanctuary staff on science issues1 that will influence policy (e.g., address research questions in the Management Plan)
- Review of research issues and documents for SAC and sanctuary staff
- Facilitate the exchange of regional research information and create opportunities for project coordination
- Convey regional research needs and opportunities to the SAC
Membership:
- Membership criteria:
- Expertise in disciplines relevant to the sanctuary
- Willingness to serve on the RAP and provide community service
- Affiliation with one or more regional marine science institutions
- Connectivity to the regional marine science community
- Multidisciplinary research interests
- Membership will contain a group of disciplines relevant to the sanctuary, such as 2,3,4:
- Biological Oceanography
- Deep-Sea Environment
- Estuarine Environment
- Fisheries
- Marine and Coastal Geology
- Marine Conservation Biology
- Nearshore Environment
- Physical Oceanography
- Shelf and Slope Environment
- Social Sciences
- Water Quality
- Membership should reflect the broadest marine science institutional diversity possible. Regional institutions from which to seek membership:
- Universities and associated marine labs
- State and federal agencies
- Private marine research institutions
- The Sanctuary Research Coordinator will be a standing member. A standing invitation will be given to the Research Coordinators at the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries.
- Selection of RAP members:
- Candidates nominated by current RAP members on the basis of discipline expertise
- Selection of members by a committee consisting of: RAP Chair (meeting leader), a volunteer RAP member, MBNMS Research Coordinator, MBNMS Superintendent and SAC Chair
- Members must have an alternate, also selected by the committee
- Members serve three-year terms, renewable by agreement between the selection committee and the RAP member
- Meetings are open to all researchers and the public
RAP Meeting Format:
- Four5 meetings per year
- Standing agenda items:
- Updates, requests for information, and discussion on Management Plan Action Plans, led by sanctuary staff
- Responses to requests from SAC and sanctuary staff
- Opportunities to facilitate regional research collaboration
- Updates on regional science capabilities or needs
Responsibilities of RAP Members:
- Attend all meetings (member or alternate should attend at least 4 meetings per year)
- Coordinate attendance between member and alternate and remain knowledgeable about current RAP issues in absence of meetings
- Help address research questions related to the Managment Plan
- Invite participation by and facilitate connection to regional experts on Management Plan Action Plans
- Advise SAC and sanctuary staff on basic and conservation science issues, including, but not limited to:
- Review and comment on technical reports
- Write brief reports or notes
- Suggest potential panels to address specific science issues
- Convey sanctuary-related research concerns and opportunities to the SAC through the RAP Chair
- Participate in the nomination and voting process for the Ed Ricketts Memorial Award and Lecture
Responsibilities of RAP Chair:
- Serve on the SAC as Research Representative, as described in SAC protocols
- Chair and facilitate RAP meetings
- Meet with sanctuary staff 2 weeks prior to each RAP meeting to set the agenda
- Debrief with sanctuary staff after each RAP meeting and follow-up on action items
- Provide leadership to improve and maintain RAP function
Responsibilities of RAP Vice-Chair:
- Serve on the SAC as an alternate for the Research Representative seat, as described in SAC protocols
- Fill the role of RAP Chair when he/she is not available
Voting:
- Decisions are reached mostly by consensus
- When voting is necessary, both members and their alternates can vote
Interacting with MBNMS SAC, other SAC Working Groups, and Staff 6:
- The RAP will review, comment and advise on issues and documents upon request from the SAC or MBNMS staff
- The RAP will focus their reviews on the research and science aspects of the issue or document
- In response to requests, the RAP may have experts on the panel willing to review topics, may suggest colleagues willing and capable of providing reviews, or may provide a list of relevant literature on the topic. Since the RAP is a voluntary body, for extensive reviews, it may simply provide a list of capable scientists and research organizations with whom the SAC or staff can arrange contracts
- MBNMS staff benefit greatly from requests to individual RAP members on a variety of small-scale issues
- The RAP may also convey requests to the SAC or staff through the RAP Chair, particularly for issues relevant to the research community
1 Former wording was, "conservation science issues." Changed at 9/9/2005 RAP meeting.
2 Former wording was, "Members should represent the following disciplines:" Changed at 9/9/2005 RAP meeting.
3 Former disciplines were "Estuaries, Marine & Coastal Ecology, Deep-Sea Benthic Ecology, Nearshore & Shelf Benthic Ecology, Biological Oceanography, Physical Oceanography, Marine Conservation Biology, Seabirds & Shorebirds, Marine Mammals, Ichthyology, Marine Policy, Social Sciences, Fisheries, and Water Quality" Changed at 5/12/2006 RAP meeting.
4 Former "Ecology" disciplines changed to "Environment" disciplines, including: Deep-Sea Environment, Estuarine Environment, Nearshore Environment, and Shelf & Slope Environment. Changed at 9/9/2016 RAP meeting.
5 RAP meeting frequency reduced from five to four meetings per year. Changed at 1/13/2023 RAP meeting.
6 Accepted by unanimous vote at 3/8/2013 RAP meeting.