MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
ADVISORY COUNCIL

CONSERVATION WORKING GROUP

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, July 11, 1995
Moss Landing Harbor District Office


The Conservation Working Group met on Tuesday, July 11, 1995 at the Moss Landing 
Harbor District Office.  Working group members in attendance were Rachel Saunders, 
Chair (Center for Marine Conservation), Vicki Nichols (Save Our Shores), Rick Starr 
(Sea Grant), Ellen Farout-Daniels (Friends of the Sea Otters), Jack Wickham (Sierra 
Club-Ventanna Chapter), Milos Radakovich (American Cetacean Society and BAYNET), 
Thomas La Hue (Surfrider Foundation), and Mark Pickett and Jane DeLay (Monterey Bay 
National Marine Sanctuary).  A special guest in attendance was Ms. Cory Johnson who 
will be Rick's new assistant at the Sea Grant Office.

I.	CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. 

II.	CWG ADMINISTRATION

´	The minutes from the June 20 meeting were approved as presented;

´	The agenda was reviewed with the following item suggested for future discussion:  

	- the role of the CWG as an advocate in relation to the Sanctuary Advisory Council;

´	August meeting date for the Conservation Working Group is Tuesday, 
August 22 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Moss Landing Harbor 
District Office;

´	Announcements:

1) Review of upcoming dates for working groups and the Sanctuary Advisory Council:

	Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP) -- Thursday, August 17 from 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 
p.m. at the Moss Landing MBARI Conference Room;

	Research Activity Panel (RAP) -- Friday, August 18 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at 
the Moss Landing Marine Lab Shore facility Del Norte (across the street from the old 
Moss Landing Fire House on the island);

	Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) -- Friday, August 25 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 
at the Holiday Inn, Coast Room in Santa Cruz.



2) Rick Starr introduced his new assistant, Ms. Cory Johnson.  Ms. Johnson will be 
taking over Tanya's responsibilities at the Sea Grant Office and is a graduate student of 
Greg Cailliet's.

3) Surfrider - on July 18 at Loudon Nelson in Santa Cruz, there will be a special 
presentation on Mussel Watch and other programs.  The session begins at 7:00 p.m.  
Contact Rob Hurtzel at 724-3778 for more information.

4) Vicki Nichols will be in Washington, D.C. next week to meet with Jeff Benoit, 
Director of the Ocean Coastal Resources Management Agency, and others.  Let her know if 
you want her to pass anything on.

III.	REPORT FROM THE SANCTUARY OFFICE

The Sanctuary activities report presented by Mark Pickett, Assistant Manager at the 
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, included mention of the following:

Management -- 

1) United States Coast Guard CMDR Jim Hall was replaced by LCMDR Dean Lee. 

Permitting -- 

1) Fireworks permit for Pacific Grove's Feast of the Lanterns' celebration -- Sanctuary 
staff have conducted bottom surveys before and after the fireworks displays to look for 
impact, and concluded that the fireworks remains tend to wash ashore rather than sink to 
the bottom of the Bay.  The permit will therefore stipulate that there be an organized 
beach clean-up following the presentations.  Mark commended Save Our Shores (SOS) 
for sponsoring a beach clean-up the day after the fireworks.

2) the ATOC cable permit is under review.

3) Cambria Desalination Plant permit is under review -- the Research Activity Panel 
has set up a subcommittee to look into biological impacts.

Research -- 

1) Research Coordinator -- the names of the top three or four candidates will be passed 
to the RAP Advisory Council by July 11.  The Sanctuary hopes to have an individual in 
place by the end of the month.

2) There is a contract of 75k for marine mammal research.  The criteria for the 
proposals stipulate that the research must be done in one, or all, of the three northern 
California National Marine Sanctuaries. 

3) The Sanctuary's Acting Research Coordinator, Aaron King, has been away from the 
office due to surgery, but he is doing well and is expected back at work by next week.  
Meanwhile, he is responding to e-mail.


Education --

1) Current education programs include: collaboration with the University of California 
- Santa Cruz to develop a short publication about the Sanctuary; continuation of the 
MARE program; and participation in the Great American Fish Count from July 1 - 16. 

Sanctuary staff will be diving to help count fish species on Wednesday, July 12 at 
"Whaler's Cove" at Pt. Lobos.  The press has been invited.

2) Kip Evans, MBNMS Education Outreach Coordinator, is leading the effort to produce a 
Sanctuary video and has secured Dr. Sylvia Earl, a renowned marine scientist and 
author, to do the voice over.

3) an intern in the Sanctuary office, Adrienne Saxton, is working under Liz Love's 
direction to coordinate Monterey's Sanctuary Birthday Celebration. 

4) the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Fall 1995 Newsletter is nearing 
completion.

Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP) --

WQPP recent activities include: cooperative efforts to establish widely accessible 
databases for water quality issues; a meeting with EPA to involve them in gathering 
information on regional monitoring; writing a grant proposal to gain more funding; and 
working with the Regional Water Quality Control Board to obtain a staff person to work 
in the Sanctuary office.

Enforcement -- there is nothing new to report.

Discussion about the overall importance of an enforcement plan ensued, concluding with 
the general consensus that enforcement be placed as a higher priority for the Sanctuary.  
In response to various questions from Conservation Working Group members, Mark 
explained that, although the Florida Keys enforcement plan has been used as a model, 
there have been some difficulties in gaining the necessary support and cooperation from 
other related agencies.  The Sanctuary has contacted the National Marine Fisheries 
Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the State Parks and Recreation 
Department about the enforcement issue.  

The Conservation Working Group decided to place the topic on the agenda at a higher 
priority level, describing enforcement as a highly visible part of the Sanctuary 
Program that could work in tandem with the public education and public relations 
programs which are a high priority for the Sanctuary office.  Mark assured the CWG that 
he would take their concerns to the Sanctuary Manager, but reminded the group that, at 
this time, the sanctuary does not have an enforcement plan nor the resources to 
implement one.

Working group members decided to write a memo to the Sanctuary Advisory Council 
stressing the importance of an enforcement plan for the Sanctuary.  Rachel will bring 
this up at the Council meeting and then draft a memo.

IV.	UPDATES/ DISCUSSIONS ON THE NATIONAL SCENE

1) NOAA reorganization -- although there were bills introduced in both the House and 
Senate regarding the Department of Commerce dismantling act, there does not yet appear 
to be a lot of support for breaking up NOAA or for putting the organization in the 
Department of Interior.  Some in Congress have suggested moving NOAA to the 
Department of Transportation.  The House subcommittee proposes a 28% cut in the 
overall budget and wants to consider the budget before the end of the Summer.  

House subcommittee cuts included: 

´	The Marine Mammal Commission was completely cut and will disappear unless it is 
picked up on the Senate side; and ,
´	there have been substantial cuts to the National Marine Fisheries Service and the 
Marine Mammal Entanglement Research Program. 

FYI- a budget resolution was passed that will fund the NOAA Corps for another two years 
-- Mark has until July 1996, and Terry is due to rotate in November 1996.

2) Jade Cove - the Sanctuary office is currently waiting for approval of the Advanced 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPR).  Once received, the public hearing process can 
proceed.  The office would like to have the approval within the next couple of weeks, but  
the date remains unclear.

3) An Action Alert  from the Center for Marine Conservation concerning Congressional 
threats to cut adequate funding for the National Marine Sanctuary Program was passed 
out by Rachel.

4) Continuation of the Oil Moratorium -- House subcommittee members voted to uphold 
the moratorium and there are no expectations of a fight in the full House.  Nevertheless, 
there will be people present reminding House members of the importance of the 
moratorium.  

On the Senate side, the subcommittee on Appropriations is Chaired by Senator Slade 
Gorton, who is known to be friendly to the moratorium.   

5) Conservation Working Group members were encouraged to call Congress in support of 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA). 

Ellen Farout-Daniels provided a bit of good news concerning the ESA -- the "Sweet 
Home" decision upheld the Department of Interior's interpretation of harm to endangered 
species as including habitat destruction.  

6) The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) is up for re-authorization.  As the deadline 
is September 30, the Conservation Working Group needs to gain support quickly.  
Contact Rachel Saunders or Vicki Nichols for more information.  Working group 
members observed that the connection between economics and environmental concerns, 
i.e.  a healthy environment = a healthy economy, is finally being realized by the general 
masses.  Business, fishing, and the tourism industries are trying to gain support for the 
CZMA.  Now is the time to call Washington, D.C. in support of the Act.  Save Our Shores is 
putting together an Action Alert defining what the CZMA means for the Sanctuary.


Call Coastal Alliance at 202-546-9554 for a copy of the State of the Coast  report.

7) A national "call your Congressional Representative Day" is scheduled for Tuesday, 
July 18.  Interested parties are encouraged to call in support of the "Campaign to Save 
California Wetlands", a project of the Tides Foundation.  Call Senator Dianne Feinstein at 
202-224-3841 and ask her to oppose S851.

V.	UPDATES/DISCUSSION ON THE LOCAL SCENE

1) Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP) - the program is focusing on developing 
strategies to improve water quality and strategies for implementation.  WQPP has chosen 
Urban Runoff as their first project, followed by an investigation of marinas and boating 
and then agriculture.  Priorities also include: regional education and outreach, technical 
training, modifications to the CEQA checklist; regional stormwater management plans, 
more structural controls, focus on issues related to sedimentation and erosion, 
inspection of storm drains, and developing a regional monitoring program to institute an 
overarching council to oversee cooperation, monitoring, and sharing.  

Events of note include: 

´	a workshop on monitoring in September-- let Holly Price or Rachel know if you are 
interested in attending;
´	the 6217 (a section of the Coastal Zone Management Act which mandates the 
development of non-point source pollution programs for coastal states) Non-Point 
Source Program Draft will be released this month and the state board will hold a 
workshop in early August;
´	releasing the final draft of an action plan on urban runoff for the WQPP is scheduled 
for September;
´	an AMBAG consultant has been contracted to investigate marinas and boating as the 
next issue area for the WQPP; 
´	the WQPP will go before the California Coastal Commission in September.

Finally, the WQPP is working to convince EPA to use 40k on the Monterey Bay National 
Marine Sanctuary region and to help develop more information on what a regional water 
quality monitoring program should look like.

CWG members suggested that they discuss the role of non-governmental organizations in 
the WQPP and how the working group can work as advocates for the program and help to 
implement the strategies. It was requested that the topic be placed on the agenda for 
August or September.   

There was a brief discussion of NOAA's Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) 
Division's participation in the WQPP and the agency's pending withdrawal from the 
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary program in early fall 1995.  When the issue 
was presented to the Sanctuary Advisory Council at the June 30  meeting, the Council 
voted to send a letter requesting that the SEA remain involved in the WQPP for at least 
another six months.  

The cities of Monterey and Santa Cruz are very interested in working with NOAA to 
implement some of the urban run-off and storm water strategies.

CWG members requested that an update on the WQPP be included in every agenda.  


2) The Santa Cruz Water Quality Task Force is meeting Friday, July 21.  They normally 
meet on the evening of the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at SOS.  In an effort to 
educate the public, the task force is considering methods to create interpretive displays 
on the beaches. 

3) Organizers for the Sanctuary Reflections Conference are hoping to meet this month to 
finalize the workshop agendas and secure a keynote speaker.  A suggested candidate for a 
keynote speaker is Mike Weber, former special assistant to the head of NMFS, former 
CMC Vice President, and author of the recent book The Wealth of the Oceans.

Conservation Working Group members requested that the new Chief of the Sanctuaries 
and Reserves Division be invited to the Conference as a guest, if not as a speaker.

Rachel will let CWG members know when the next planning meeting is.

4) Sanctuary Birthday Celebrations are scheduled for September 10 in Monterey and 
September 24 in Santa Cruz.  The poster will feature the license plate.  Santa Cruz and 
Monterey have already sent out the notices for exhibitors. 

5) Everyone is encouraged to buy a Sanctuary license plate.

6) FYI - there is a proposal to create an underwater park in Monterey and Pacific Grove 
that would ban all taking of fish and harvesting of kelp out to 60 feet.  The underwater 
park will not limit access to the area, but fishing of any type will be prohibited.  

The underwater park is promoted heavily by the diving industry and supported by the 
Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Minimal impact to commercial industry is expected.   

VI.	UPDATES: SANCTUARY OUTREACH

1) SOS Sanctuary Steward Program -- The Stewards are finishing their training and 
will soon be beginning their fifty hours of community service.  The next steward class 
will be in the spring.  SOS is currently working out the details for next year's program.

Vicki reiterated that the Stewards' training has been clear about their representing SOS 
and not the Sanctuary Program.  She added that the Steward's will be carrying out SOS's 
position on issues.  

There will be enrichment classes for the Stewards throughout the year.

Future activities of the SOS Steward program will include efforts to target corporations 
for funding, using "Leadership Santa Cruz" as a model, and to get funding for a volunteer 
coordinator for next year.  


2) BAYNET program -- Rachel introduced the newest volunteer program, BAYNET, and 
described its concept and mission.  BAYNET is designed to set up a network of volunteers 
to help inform and assist in promoting Sanctuary policies and programs.  The program 
will promote citizen involvement with a very visible presence.  The Center for Marine 
Conservation (CMC) has contracted Milos Radakovich to help develop the program.  
There will be an informational meeting about the program on August 8 at the Moss 
Landing Harbor District Office.  Participants will discuss strategies to avoid repetition 
of efforts.  Rachel and Milos are planning to begin training the volunteers as early as 
mid-September.  

VII.	SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL REPORT

Highlights of the June 30 Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting included discussion of the 
following:

´	Joint Vessel Traffic Safety Study (JVTS) -- Council members continued to voice 
concern about the status of the report and the length of time it has taken to clear the 
signatory process;

´	Pete Bontadelli, Administrator of Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), 
provided a detailed report about the upcoming report and recommendations for 
California Coastal Protection;

´	The Sanctuary Manager's Report indicated that shark chumming and jade cove issues 
are being reviewed by NOAA; 

´	the California Ocean Resources Management Plan - there will be a hearing on the 
draft document on August 24 at Seaside City Hall beginning at 7:00 p.m.;

´	RETREAT Summary - defined priorities for the SAC and reviewed and discussed 
proposed protocols.


The meeting adjourned at 12:40 p.m.


Respectfully Submitted,



Jane M. DeLay, 
SAC Coordinator

Meeting Minutes 
FINAL 
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