Research Activity Panel:  Meeting Minutes
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Friday  January 9, 1998
09:00 - 12:00


Introduction of members and guests (A. DeVogelaere)

Institution Representatives
	Andrew De Vogelaere, MBNMS - RAP Coordinator
	Lisa de Marignac, MBNMS - SAC Coordinator

	George Boehlert, NOAA/NMFS/PFEL
	Jane Caffrey, ESNERR and ESF
	Brian Edwards, USGS
	Randy Kochevar, Monterey Bay Aquarium 
	Deborah Johnston, CA DFG/ Monterey
	Jan Roletto, GFNMS/CBNMS
	Leslie Rosenfeld, Naval Postgraduate School
	Gary Ichikawa, CDFG/Mar. Pollution Studies Lab
	Geoff Wheat, NOAA/NURP
At-Large
	Caroline Pomeroy, UCSC/CSUMB
	Les Strnad, CA Coastal Commission 
Guests
	Jenny Carless, MBNMS Newsletter

CONSENT ITEMS

Approval of the minutes for November 1997 (A. De Vogelaere)

The draft minutes from the November 21, 1997 RAP meeting were approved 
as presented.

PRESENTATIONS

Update from the National Undersea Research Program (NURP) (G. Wheat)

Geoff Wheat, NURP, presented an update on NURP and the Monterey Bay 
Initiative.  In 1997, the program funded five out of eleven proposals, with a 
total cost to complete these projects at $436,740.  For 1998, the received only 
three proposals, and is funding all of them at a total cost of $300,000.

The total funding for NURP in 1998 is $15.5 million, with the West Coast and 
Hawaiian centers probably receiving $2.2-2.4 million each.  The Delta fund 
will continue under the West Coast Centers money.  Bob Ballard (JASON 
Foundation and Building) is receiving $1.5 million, and the Odyssey 
Maritime Center, Seattle is receiving $0.5 million to finish the building.  
NOAA Administration is receiving $1.0 million.

September 1, 1998 is the deadline for proposals for the final year of the 
Monterey Bay Initiative.  Geoff emphasized that there is a need for increased 
support (more than three proposals per year) of the program in order to keep 
it going.

According to Geoff, the NURP budget should continue to increase.  Next 
year's budget may include a Polar Initiative, and further down the road there 
may be a Sanctuary Initiative.

DISCUSSION

Light in the deep sea: Kochevar et al. review (A. De Vogelaere)

Andrew DeVogelaere, MBNMS, commended Randy KochevarŐs report on 
light in the deep sea, and requested comments/suggestion from the RAP.  
The following list summarizes the RAP's recommendations for additional 
topics to include in the report:

ˇ impacts on repeatedly visited sites, i.e. cold seeps;
ˇ impacts on sessile organisms in repeatedly visited sites;
ˇ comparison of distribution and abundance at heavily visited sites, 
moderately visited sites, and seldom visited sites;
ˇ impacts of laser beams on marine organisms.

The RAP agreed that the final draft should be submitted as an MBNMS 
Technical Report.

Letter of appreciation for Laura Ehret (A. De Vogelaere)

Andrew De Vogelaere announced that Laura Ehret, who was very active in 
working with the RAP as it was developing, is leaving the Naval 
Postgraduate School.  Andrew will draft a letter of appreciation for Laura on 
behalf of the RAP for Greg Cailliet to sign.

Key issues for the Sanctuary Managers Meeting (A. De Vogelaere)

The new Sanctuary Superintendent, Bill Douros, requested that the RAP 
compile key issues that he can take to the Sanctuary Managers Meeting in 
Washington, D.C.


RAP issues for possible consideration at the Managers Meeting:

ˇ Involvement in fisheries issues, particularly the impacts on benthic 
habitats and the potential role of harvest refugia (natural or human 
boundaries).  It was also suggested that an MOU between NMFS, MBNMS, 
and CDFG may be appropriate to address these issues (we are most likely 
not the appropriate regulatory body).
ˇ Gain insight on and explore the development of the Sanctuaries Division 
being the research arm of the Coastal Ocean Program.  Related to this may 
be a discussion of how the new strategic plan, including the research 
component (or lack of it), will be impacted by the re-organization of the 
National Ocean Service.
ˇ What is the future of NOAA ship use in the Sanctuaries?  Can we count 
on the McArthur or similar ships to address offshore issues?
ˇ Sanctuaries as places to promote and encourage research to enhance 
informed resource management.

Some key issues of local concern:

ˇ The issues listed above.
ˇ Developing a stable Research Coordinator position for continuity in the 
research program.
ˇ Monitoring and understanding water quality impacts in the coastal waters 
and deep ocean (in addition to the watersheds).
ˇ The key role of MBNMS in long-term monitoring of resources and habitat 
mapping.
ˇ The continual low level and decline MBNMS resources towards research.
ˇ In terms of permits: what is the shore-ward boundary of the MBNMS, and 
can an MOU be developed with the California Coastal Commission and 
others to avoid duplication of effort.

SHORT INFORMATION ITEMS

Verbal items:

The JASON PROJECT in Monterey Bay (A. De Vogelaere)

Andrew announced that the Jason Project will be coming to the Monterey 
area.  If anyone is interested in getting involved with the JASON project, 
contact Andrew.

Legislation update (C. Pomeroy)

Caroline Pomeroy provided an update on Coastal Legislation.  The Assembly 
Democrats unveiled a "State of Coast and Ocean" report on January 6, 1998 
which can be obtained by contacting Assemblymember Fred Keeley at (916) 
445-8496.

Anyone interested in receiving updates on bills can subscribe to a particular 
bill by going to the California Legislative Counsel's web site 
(http://www.leginfo.ca.gov).

Sanctuary Currents 1998 draft program/awards (C. Pomeroy/A. De Vogelaere)

Caroline Pomeroy announced that there is an open slot for a speaker on 
cumulative impacts of California fisheries.  Please pass on any suggestions to 
Caroline.  Poster abstracts will be due at the end of January.

Andrew announced that Mary Yoklavich won the Science Award.  After a "closed discussion" and vote, George Somero was elected for the Ricketts 
Memorial Lecture Award.

Web Page Update (A. De Vogelaere)

Andrew announced that Greg Cailliet wrote a memo to Joanne Flanders 
regarding the RAP's concern about the web page.  The new web page is now 
up and running at the old web page address, as well as a new address 
"http://montereybay.nos.noaa.gov/index/html".

Written items (no discussion unless there are questions):

Big Creek Mapping Technical Memo (M. Yoklavich)
	A NOAA Technical Memo on the Big Creek Habitat Mapping Project is 
available for anyone interested, and I thank the RAP for recommending that 
MBNMS provide the McArthur ship time and seed money for this project.
	As an update, Frank Schwing and I managed to obtain NMFS funding 
for three more McArthur cruises within the Sanctuary during different 
seasons in 1997-98.  These cruises are based on the results of the initial survey 
that the Sanctuary supported (results in the report).  We are collecting various 
physical data to more accurately describe the ocean currents along the central 
coast (centered off Big Creek). 
	The other significant study that we are proceeding with as a follow-up 
to the Sanctuary McArthur cruise is being funded for two years by Sea Grant.  
We are validating the habitat maps that are included in that NOAA Tech 
Memo using a submersible and also assessing fish assemblages associated 
with the habitat maps.  We finished our first field season in October and are 
analyzing the video transects now.
	In summary, I thank the RAP and the MBNMS for providing the 
initial support we needed to get this study off the ground.  We all are 
continuing to get a lot of information out of these efforts.

Sanctuary Explorations: An Access Guide to the MBNMS (D. Small)
	UCSC's Long Marine Lab and MBNMS combined resources to produce 
this document.  Copies are available for all RAP Members (and Alternates).

MBNMS Site Characterization (A. De Vogelaere)
	The Pelagic Ecosystem chapter by Mary Silver, Greg Cailliet and Judith 
Connor is complete.  Look for it soon on the web page.

Research Institution Video (K. Evans)
	The Research video is on hold until the WQPP video is completed in 
mid February.

Handouts available:
	RAP Calendar
	MBNMS Permit Report
	Sanctuary Explorations: An Access Guide to the MBNMS
	MBNMS Newsletter

New Business

Les Strnad suggested that for the "Year of the Ocean," poster award winners at 
the Sanctuary Currents '98 event present their work at the Sanctuary Birthday 
Celebration.

VIEWING OF THE NEW ESNERR VISITOR CENTER EXHIBITS (B. 
Christensen)

ADJOURN

RAP Meeting Minutes - January 9, 1998		FINAL