MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
ADVISORY COUNCIL

FINAL
Meeting Minutes
August 7, 1998
Cambria Pines Lodge
Cambria

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS) Advisory Council met 
on Friday, August 7, 1998 at the Cambria Pines Lodge in Cambria.  Public 
categories and government agencies were present as indicated:

Agriculture: Richard Nutter
Diving: Ken Lundie

AMBAG: Katherine Beiers - NOT PRESENT
Education: Dorris Welch

At Large: Steve Webster, Chair
Enforcement: Doug Huckins

At Large: Karin Strasser Kauffman
Fishing: Dave Danbom

At Large: Chet Forrest
Ports & Harbors: Jim Stilwell

Business & Industry: Steve Abbott
Recreation: Sally Smith

CA EPA: Marc Del Piero - NOT PRESENT
Research:  Greg Cailliet

CA Coastal Commission: Charles Lester
Tourism:  Ed Brown

CA Resources Agency: Brian Baird
U.S. Coast Guard: LCDR Phyllis Blanton

Conservation: Rachel Saunders
                                  NOT PRESENT


The following non-voting members were present as indicated:

Monterey Bay NMS:  William Douros
Gulf of the Farallones NMS and Cordell Bank NMS:  Ed Ueber - NOT PRESENT
Channel Islands NMS:  Ed Cassano
Elkhorn Slough NERR:  Becky Christensen - NOT PRESENT

I.	CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, WELCOMING REMARKS,
	APPROVAL OF JUNE 5, 1998 DRAFT MEETING MINUTES,
	

A)	Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 9:30 a.m.  Ed Brown conducted 
the roll call - a quorum was present.

B)	Welcoming Remarks

Anne McMahon, District Representative for Lois Capps, welcomed the 
Advisory Council to Cambria.  She expressed Lois Capps¹ interest in coastal 
issues, and informed the Council and the public that Lois Capps has been 
convening National Ocean Conference follow-up meetings.

Tom Bordonaro, State Assemblyman, also welcomed the Advisory Council to 
Cambria.  He expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to listen and learn, 
explaining that community input guides officials in their decision-making 
processes.

Bud Laurent, County Supervisor, thanked the Advisory Council for traveling to 
Cambria and asked that the Council meet in the south more often.  According 
to Mr. Laurent, there is growing interest in the work of the Sanctuary and the 
Advisory Council.

C)	Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

The minutes from the June 5, 1998 Advisory Council meeting were approved as 
amended.

II.	PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA

David Clayton - California Diving Councils - thanked the Advisory Council for 
their assistance in passing the Jade Rule.  He presented plaques to At-Large 
Representative, Karin Strasser Kauffman, and to Ed Cooper, Alternate Diving 
Representative.

Susan McDonnell - Friends of Elephant Seal- announced that docents have 
reached over 70,000 people, and thanked the Advisory Council for its support.  
Rachel Saunders commended and acknowledged the community for their 
enthusiasm.

Richard Hawley - Greenspace - expressed concern regarding a sand and gravel 
mining project that he believes is occurring below the mean high water line 
near Piedras Blancas.  He requested that the Council look into the mining 
permit.

Suzy Ficker - Defense Fund - is concerned about local de-forestation projects 
that she believes are creating siltation which is threatening sea otters.

Bill Allen - North Coast Alliance - announced that he is working to push a 
national seashore designation, as well as a national marine sanctuary 
designation, in an effort to ensure a healthy ocean environment.  He is 
concerned about fishery issues.

Janda Hay - expressed concern that a local lot which has been bulldozed will 
create erosion and runoff into Sanctuary waters.

Ed Cooper - expressed concern regarding cruise ships and the quantity and 
quality of gray water they discharge.  He believes this might be an issue the 
Council should address.  See Attachment A.

Vicki Nichols - Save Our Shores - gave a brief background on her organization.

Bill Douros - MBNMS - announced that Ed Brown has been re-appointed as the 
Tourism Representative; Matthew Twisselman has been appointed as his 
alternate; and William Raver has been appointed as the Alternate At-Large 
Representative to Chet Forrest.

III.	PRESENTATION:  PROTECTION OF THE MARINE WATERS
				SOUTH OF THE MBNMS BOUNDARY

Bud Laurent, County Supervisor, gave a presentation on the need for protection 
of the ocean in between MBNMS and Channel Islands NMS.  According to Mr. 
Laurent, Arguello Canyon and its finger canyons serve as vital conduits of 
seasonal upwelling, creating a great mix of currents and nutrient-rich waters.  
The area also includes the rich fishing grounds of the San Lucia Bank.  In 
addition, Mr. Laurent claimed the area holds value as a link between both 
sanctuaries.

Mr. Laurent believes the methods for obtaining protection for the area are to 
either extend one of the two existing sanctuaries, or to create a new sanctuary.  
He explained that the movement to protect the area is in the earliest process 
and that he is working with others to build public support.  Mr. Laurent stated 
that one of most important groups involved in this issue is the commercial 
fishermen because they know the ocean best.

IV.	PRESENTATION:  LIVE FISH FISHERY

Bob Hardy, California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), gave a 
presentation on the live fish fishery.  CDFG began looking at the fishery in 
1992 when only 52,000 pounds of live fish were harvested.  In 1997, over 1 
million pounds of live fish were recorded caught by licensed California 
fishermen.

The fishery targets nearshore fishes of 66 different species, with rockfish species 
(Sebastes) as the most popular harvested fishes.  Mr. Hardy showed several 
charts indicating decreased landings of nearshore fishes in 1997, however, these 
data did not distinguish between hook-and-line and trap, nor between live and 
dead fish.  The data also did not indicate whether decreased landings were a 
result of decreased fishing effort, or declining fish populations.  Mr. Hardy 
pointed out that CDFG has not witnessed a decline in the average size of the 
fish species being targeted by the live fish fishery.  Managers often use 
declining fish sizes as an indicator of an impacted species.  However, Mr. Hardy 
was questioned whether this theory would hold up when the fishery is 
selecting small fish as opposed to large fish.

Discussion ensued among Council members, fishermen, and Mr. Hardy 
regarding: 

… effective management tools such as size limits
… the survival rate of released nearshore fish caught by hook-and-line
… current success of the live fish fishery
… gathering Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) data
… optimizing the fishery by leaving large fish in the environment as 
spawning stock
… determining sustainable yields

V.	PRESENTATION:  CALTRANS COAST HIGHWAY
				MANAGEMENT PLAN

Aileen Loe, environmental planner for Caltrans, presented an overview of the 
Coast Highway Management Plan (CHMP).  The CHMP is the continuation of 
an effort that has been underway for a number of years but has been given a 
high priority in the aftermath of the 1998 storms which resulted in the closure 
of Highway 1 for 3 1/2 months.

The CHMP is a two-phase effort - Phase I is in response to storm damage 
activities and Phase II is a more comprehensive planning effort to address 
corridor management on a larger scale.  The Phase I planning effort, targeted 
for completion by December 1998, is intended to develop interagency 
agreement and facilitate storm damage response for future years.  The Phase II 
planning effort will build on the efforts of Phase I.

The CHMP is being shaped by a group of ³shareholders² through which 
various interests - regulatory, community, special-interest, public - are 
represented and help shape the plan.  The group will be involved in developing 
the plan from its conception and will ensure the proper level of involvement 
by various interests along the way.

Bill Douros, MBNMS, explained that the CHMP is an issue for the Sanctuary 
two reasons: 1) former Caltrans requests to dispose material into the Sanctuary 
and 2). Highway 1 is a destination which provides a view of the Sanctuary.

VI.	ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS

… Karin Strasser Kauffman has received numerous phone calls regarding 
cruise ships concerns and sea otter and shell fish declines.
… Sally Smith announced a Surfrider Foundation tour of an organic farm on 
August 8 and a Clean Water Day Celebration on August 15.
… Dick Nutter announced an agricultural land projection study in Salinas and 
Pajaro Valley.
… Rachel Saunders announced US Fish and Wildlife workshops on sea otter 
issues on August 18 in Monterey at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
… Vicki Nichols announced a Save Our Shores (SOS) fundraiser cruise in 
conjunction with O¹Neill on August 27 and September 30; SOS will be 
opening an office in Half Moon Bay.
… Ed Cassano has copies of the Channel Islands NMS (CINMS) Annual Report 
available; CINMS will be establishing a Sanctuary Advisory Council in the 
near future.
… Dorris Welch announced that she has resigned from Long Marine 
Laboratories and has accepted a position at the Oakland Museum.

VII.	SANCTUARY OFFICE REPORTS

Bill Douros presented a verbal and written report on MBNMS activities.  
Highlights included:

… A joint staff meeting between MBNMS and GFNMS was held July 10 at the 
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.  The meeting was an 
opportunity to enhance links between the two sites and brainstorm for the 
coming year.
… MBNMS received a signed agreement from WASC and our current landlord 
extending our lease on Foam Street until 2000 allowing us to move to better 
offices on the second floor, with a large conference and meeting room on 
the first floor.  Planning efforts also continue for establishing a Santa Cruz 
satellite office on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.
… Sanctuary staff have been collaborating with the Advisory Council Chair to 
develop informational documents that will help to resolve a continuing 
controversy regarding conflicts over ³use² of kelp canopy by extractive 
users -- kelp harvesters -- and non-extractive users -- kayak rental and dive 
shops.  We have committed $2,000 and have received commitment from the 
city councils of Monterey and Pacific Grove for $3,000 to study the natural 
changes in kelp canopy densities in areas with and without kelp harvesting.  
We met with kelp harvesters in the region to again encourage their need to 
develop a kelp harvesters cooperative and try to develop their own 
³sustainable¹ harvesting thresholds that can avoid the conflict between the 
two basic users of kelp canopies.
… Staff have posted and circulated information and answered numerous 
requests for information on the ³Call for Partners² for the Sustainable Seas 
Expeditions.  At present, we have offered for pilot training:  Rick Starr, Steve 
Webster, Kip Evans, and Bill Douros; others may follow as we receive 
responses for our call for collaborators.
… Staff worked with the CINMS, FKNMS and various nonprofit groups to 
promote the two-week Great American Fish Count through media stories, 
public seminars and celebrity events.  Staff gave presentations to dive 
groups and the general public during the last two weeks.  Training seminars 
were held on June 19 and 20 in Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz.  On July 1, staff 
joined volunteers at Point Lobos State Reserve for an outreach media dive.  
The event was covered by two television stations and the San Jose Mercury 
News and Santa Cruz Sentinel.
… Planning continues for the Santa Cruz Shark Festival and Sanctuary 
Celebration scheduled for September 19, 1998.
… On June 10, the MBNMS Foundation officially donated two rigid hull 
inflatable enforcement boats to CDFG for conducting Sanctuary 
enforcement patrols.  In a cooperative enforcement agreement concluded in 
April, selected CDFG wardens have been deputized by NMFS as MBNMS 
Enforcement Officers and will use the boats to conduct Sanctuary patrols.  
Our efforts included helping coordinate the press event and speaking at the 
press conference, which had an excellent turnout.

VIII.	NORTH COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Karin Strasser Kauffman presented an overview of North County development 
plans and introduced Alex Heines, Planner for San Luis Opispo County.  
According to Mr. Heines, the north coast plans contains several controversial 
items:

Hearst resorts - the plan has been put before the Coastal Commission several 
times and originally proposed  650 resort units.  It has been 
modified to propose 375 maximum resort units plus a 50-unit 
dude ranch.  Potential locations are San Simeon Cove (west of 
Highway 1) or San Simeon Acres (east of Highway 1).  The 
current plan states that water will only be taken during high 
flows from Arroyo de la Cruz.  The issues regarding the Hearst 
plan include the locations, size of the development, water 
source, and potential golf courses.

East-West Ranch - issues associated with this plan include a proposed 
desalination plant, an annex to the existing water service 
district, lot retirement (lots retired in the forest to create lots 
in the grassland), and vehicular access with a link to 
Highway 1.  Resource problems include public access, public 
services, scenic resources, and environmentally sensitive 
habitats.

Charles Lester reviewed the Coastal Commission¹s procedural process 
regarding these plans.  The Commission emphasizes that resource impact 
studies must be done prior to development.  The next meeting of the 
Commission is the second week of October in Oceanside.

Bill Douros expressed interest in commenting on issues such as intertidal access  
these concerns can be submitted at hearings;

Charles would like to work with Bill on any sanctuary issues; Coastal Act calls 
for ³Balanced access.²

IX.	ASSESSMENT OF THE NATIONAL MARINE
	SANCTUARY PROGRAM

DeWitt John, National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), presented 
an overview of NAPA and his assignment to assess the National Marine 
Sanctuary Program.  NAPA is an independent, non-partisan organization 
chartered by Congress to identify emerging issues of governance and assist 
Federal, State, and local governments in addressing these issues.  Mr. John is 
managing the marine sanctuaries project and a four-person advisory panel will 
guide the work.

According to Mr. John, three themes exist in his past work with agencies such as 
the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy:

… changing relationships between the government and the private industry
… changing relationships between Federal, state, and local governments
… new ways of establishing regulations in an effort to work with people in 
protecting the environment

Mr. John spent the last few days in Monterey meeting with various 
stakeholders.  So far, he has learned the following:

… MBNMS has been a useful tool in preventing offshore oil drilling.
… MBNMS has some additional regulations, i.e., jet skiis, shark chumming, 
jade.
… MBNMS has received a lot of national attention due to its resources.
… MBNMS has worked as a partner and coordinator in several issues - vessel 
traffic safety, water quality, elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, etc.  The 
Sanctuary has created synergy among researchers and educators, and has 
exceptional volunteer activity.

Mr. John found that the questions about the Sanctuary include:

… What is the role of MBNMS regarding fisheries?
… How can the Sanctuary manage massive amounts of volunteers?
… What are the tangible results of sanctuaries? How can these results be added 
up?  How can the Sanctuary Program be implemented, and how can it be 
compelling to citizens?

Council members offered several observations regarding the benefits of the 
Sanctuary Program.

X.	REPORT:  CONSTITUENT OUTREACH

Brian Baird - California Resources Agency - gave a verbal and written overview 
of his work related to the Sanctuary and its Advisory Council.  The Resources 
Agency has worked with the staff from all the California sanctuaries and with 
the Advisory Council since its first meeting in 1994.  For example, Sanctuary 
staff and the Advisory Council assisted the Resources Agency with the 
development of California¹s Ocean Resources:  An Agenda for the Future.  
Representatives from all the California sanctuaries participated in the 
international conference California and the World Ocean Œ97 co-organized by the 
Resources Agency.  Brian consistently uses the Sanctuary as a model of 
integrated coastal zone management in his presentations.  

Ed Brown -  Tourism - represents those involved in visitor activities.  He is 
working along with Steve Abbott on the Business and Tourism Activity Panel 
on issues of concern to the business and tourism industries, and relates the 
benefits of the Sanctuary, tying in the concepts of ecotourism.  Ed views cruise 
ships as a positive influence to the tourism industry and to the potential of 
expanding environmental education.  He has worked with the tourism industry 
to dispel early concerns about regulations and is now working to promote 
what the sanctuary can do.   He would like to expand the connection between 
tourism and environmental education to State Parks and coastal resorts.

Bill Raver - alternate At-Large - introduced himself as the newest Advisory 
Council member.  He is a native Californian, and has lived in Cambria for 9 
1/2 years.  He has been involved in local environmental work, such as 
founding and serving as Secretary of Friends of the Elephant Seal.

XI.	REPORT:	VESSEL TRAFFIC WORKSHOPS

MBNMS and the USCG hosted four public workshops in Half Moon Bay, 
Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Monterey to obtain input on the proposed package of 
strategies developed over the past year by the vessel management work group.  
Key components of the package presented to the public include improving the 
organization of routing for four categories of commercial traffic, and moving 
large container ships and bulk product carriers further offshore to reduce the 
risk of oil spills.  While attendance at the workshops was generally lower than 
anticipated, comments received were generally favorable.  Based on the need to 
make relatively few changes, the vessel management package can be taken to 
the next step of national review with relatively few minor revisions.  A draft of 
implementation steps was developed for carrying the vessel traffic package 
forward through national and international review over the next year.  
Planning work also began for briefing Hill members on the package in 
September. 

Karin Strasser Kauffman made a motion to send letter to NAVSAF supporting 
the vessel traffic package, by either reviewing a draft at the October meeting 
or if necessary, to authorize the Chair and Vice Chair to prepare a letter in 
advance and sign.  The motion was seconded by Chet Forrest and passed 
unanimously.

XII.	DISCUSSION:  JULY RETREAT

The Advisory Council agreed to the items addressed in the memo from Bill 
Douros and Steve Webster.  See Attachment B.


The meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.


Respectfully submitted,



Lisa de Marignac
Advisory Council Coordinator

ENC

Letter Re: Gray Water
Memorandum Re: Retreat Outcomes
Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting - August 7, 1998	FINAL