MBNMS
Conservation Working Group
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Attendance
- H.
Price
- R.
Saunders
- J.
Fisher
- S.
Webster
- A.
Graves
- K.
Gaffney
- M.
Osmond
Announcements
John Fischer gave an update on desal plans for Moss Landing.
Rachel Saunders announced she has been hired by the MBNMS to serve
as a community relations officer.
Sanctuary Report
Holly reported that around 130 people attended the Sanctuary’s
volunteer appreciation event.
Holly noted that Carol Takaka (NOAA enf.) is leaving the MBNMS to
go back to school and the Sanctuary will be hiring a new enforcement
officer.
A draft list of priority issues for the JMPR will be distributed in
late June/early July and discussed by the SAC at the August SAC meeting
in Cambria.
The MBNMS will be participating in a coastwide water quality monitoring
event in the Spring of 2003 (as an extension of Snapshot Day).
Sanctuary Symposium 2003
The CWG agreed to suggest “Policy issues facing the MBNMS”
as the theme for the 2003 Sanctuary conference to tie in with Management
Plan Review activities.
Kaitilin Gaffney agreed to attend conference planning meetings on
behalf of the CWG. Steve Webster will also be attending these meetings
and will help keep the CWG informed.
SAC Meeting Update
Mike Osmond gave an update on the June 7, 2002 SAC meeting. He noted
that the SAC had voted to extend their August meeting to include public
hearing hours on Thursday evening, August 1. He also informed the
group that representatives from SLO county had attended the SAC meeting
to voice support for a southern boundary expansion.
Kaitilin informed the CWG that the SAC had agreed to send a letter
to NOAA regarding special use permits for fiber optic cables and had
adopted the CWG’s recommendations on cruise ships as contained
in the CWG letter dated March 12, 2002.
DFG Gill Net Regulation Update
Kaitilin informed the CWG that comments regarding CDFG’s proposed
permanent closure of the gillnet fishery were due July 1, 2002.
Roxanne Jordon raised concerns about the socioeconomic impact of this
closure and the possibility of allowing an experimental fishery to
continue.
Marine Life Management Act Update
Comments on the MLMA draft fisheries management plan. Holly informed
the CWG that the MBNMS intends to submit comments.
Fisheries Recovery Act Update
Alan Graves gave an update on the federal Fisheries Recovery Act legislation
and noted that he had attended a recent “lobbying week”
sponsored by the Marine Fish Conservation Network in DC with a focus
on improving federal fisheries management.
