MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

Friday, January 26, 1996
Pt. Lobos State Reserve
Highway One, Carmel, CA 


AGENDA


  9:00	Coffee and Sign In

  9:30	Call to Order, Roll Call, Approval of December Meeting Minutes

  9:45	Public Comments on Items Not on the Agenda

10:00	Presentation: Calif. Council on Biodiversity

10:30	Discussion: Coast Guard, Group Monterey Potential Reduction

10:45	Discussion: Cruise Ships in Monterey Bay

11:00	Sanctuary Manager's Report:
	 - Status of the Sanctuary Foundation
	 - Issues: Jade Cove; Shark Chumming; Enforcement
	 - Update: State Mussel Watch Program; License Plate Program

11:45	Working Group Reports:  - Education, Research, Conservation

12:30	Announcements from Council Members

  1:00	Adjourn

MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
ADVISORY COUNCIL

MEETING MINUTES

Friday, January 26, 1996
Pt. Lobos State Reserve, Hudson House
Highway One, Carmel, California

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council met on Friday, January 
26, 1996 in the Hudson House at Pt. Lobos State Reserve in Carmel, California.  Members 
present and representing a quorum were:

AMBAG:		Not Represented		NMFS Enforcement:	Roy Torres
CA Resources:		Brian Baird			Harbors:		Joe Townsend
Agriculture:		Not Represented		CCC:			Tami Grove
At Large:		Steve Webster			CA EPA:		Marc Del Piero
At Large:		Karin Strasser Kauffman	Recreation:		Tom LaHue
Coast Guard:		Dean Lee			Fishing:		Dave Danbom
Conservation:		Rachel Saunders		Tourism:		Ed Brown
Diving:			Ed Cooper			Education:		Dorris Welch
Research:		Greg Cailliet			Business & Industry	Steve Abbott

The following non-voting members were present as indicated:

Monterey Bay NMS:		Terry Jackson		
Channel Islands NMS:	Ed Cassano	
Elkhorn Slough NERR:	Not Represented
CB/GF NMS:			Ed Ueber

I.	CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by the Chair at 9:35 a.m.

II.	APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES  

The Draft minutes from the December 1, 1995 meeting were approved as amended.

III.	PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA

1) Dr. Jim Hughes -- expressed concern that individuals in San Mateo County feel 
disenfranchised from the Advisory Council and would like to be represented on it in more 
force.  

In response to the comment, the Chair mentioned efforts are made to ensure participation 
from both the communities located in the northern and southern ends of the Sanctuary 
including: press releases and contacts with media; at least one Advisory Council meeting 
per year is held in the northern and southern ends; and representation on the Advisory 
Council is not based upon geographic location and is open to all who apply for the 
positions.

Following some discussion, it was decided that the Advisory Council will institute a 
meeting schedule that includes the northern and southern ends of the Sanctuary more often.  
Advisory Council members also directed that there be an advance schedule of meetings and 
locations ready for approval at the next meeting.  

2) Aileen Loe, CALTRANS -- introduced the Draft Outline for CALTRANS' long-term 
management strategy for Piedras Blancas and the elephant seal situation.  A full 
presentation on the issue and proposed management strategy will be a topic on the 
Sanctuary Advisory Council's next meeting agenda.  (Please see Attachment A). 

The California Coastal Commission requested that the Advisory Council direct the 
Research Activity Panel to provide some scientific evidence about marine mammals, 
specifically elephant seals, that may provide environmentally responsible solutions to the 
problem. The California Coastal Commission will also provide an presentation on the 
CALTRANS plan at the next Advisory Council meeting and action from the Research 
Activity Panel will be formally requested at that time.

Council members were reminded that information only was being solicited 
from the Research Activity Panel, not advice.

All needed documentation on this issue will be provided to the Council in advance of the 
next meeting and immediately to the Research Activity Panel.  The issue of marine mammal 
harassment and CALTRANS' and the California Coastal Commission's perspective on the 
harassment issue will be presented to the Research Activity Panel at their next meeting 
scheduled for Friday, February 2, 1996.  

3) Ed Cooper, Advisory Council Diving Representative -- expressed his concern for the 
amount of kelp that is being taken by mechanical harvesters.  Ed requested that the 
Advisory Council investigate the kelp harvesting leases, harvesting methods, and impacts 
on the kelp forests of the MBNMS.

Advisory Council members were reminded that as kelp harvesting is an exempt area, the 
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary does not have jurisdiction over the activity.  The 
Sanctuary Manager suggested that there be a presentation about kelp harvesting, and the 
many uses for kelp, at the next meeting.  Representatives from the California Department of 
Fish and Game (CDFG) and from harvesting companies such as KELCO should be invited 
to give presentations. 

Greg Cailliet, Chair of the Research Activity Panel, commented that literature about the 
regulations governing kelp harvesting and its impacts can be provided, but he needs to 
know what kind of harvesting is in question?  Greg will assist in coordinating this aspect of 
the next Advisory Council meeting.

The Advisory Council indicated that it should be on record as having sent a 
letter to the appropriate entities expressing concern about the possible 
negative impacts from kelp harvesting.

The Advisory Council recommended that the Sanctuary office contact the CDFG to request 
legal information about the issue.

IV.	PRESENTATION: CALIFORNIA COUNCIL ON BIODIVERSITY

Mr. Carl Rountree from the Bureau of Land Management, introduced the California 
Biodiversity Council (CBC) on behalf of the California Resources Agency, Secretary 
Douglas Wheeler, and the signatory agencies.

The CBC is an organization of federal, state and local government members working 
cooperatively to ensure protection of the state's biological diversity.  The CBC was formed 
in 1991 and has been chaired by California Resources Agency Secretary Wheeler for the 
last five years.

The CBC presumes that those who enjoy and use the land are the ones most likely to 
develop a plan for protection and economic sustainability.  Therefore, local solutions and 
participation are the key to the program's success.

The CBC is presently working to include marine biodiversity in its programs and has 
scheduled a meeting in Monterey in March 1996.  It will be a one day forum titled 
"Creating Linkages Between the Health of Biodiversity and the Monterey Bay" and will 
focus on issues affecting the MBNMS.

The forum will feature two panels: 1) examining the linkages between occurrences 
happening inland and their impact on the marine environment through the watersheds.  Dr. 
Holly Price, Director of the MBNMS Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP), will be a 
panel participant.  Also participating will be Brian Baird, Ocean Program Manager for the 
California Resources Agency and Advisory Council member, who will make a presentation 
on the state's perspective of the issue; 2) presenting differing points of view about 
biodiversity to ensure that all sides are being represented.

The CBC will be drafting a letter to Terry Jackson inviting the Sanctuary to participate in 
the conference and as a member of the Council.  

While on the subject of biodiversity, Greg Cailliet talked briefly about his participation in a 
conference on All-Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) held in Washington, D.C. this past 
December.  The conference, co-sponsored by the Center for Marine Conservation and the 
Smithsonian Institution, addressed issues of biodiversity including efforts to improve 
studies of marine biodiversity.  Greg, along with Don Potts (University of California Santa 
Cruz), Jim Nybakken (Moss Landing Marine Labs), Jim Barry (Monterey Bay Aquarium 
Research Institute), and Eric Hochberg (Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History), 
attended the conference and proposed the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 
(MBNMS) as a marine ATBI site.  Response to the Monterey delegation's proposal was 
generally positive and a follow-up conference on International Marine Biodiversity will be 
scheduled for Fall 1996 in Monterey.  

Greg suggested that the CBC conference in March might be a good time to introduce the 
proposed specifics of an International Marine Biodiversity program centered in the 
MBNMS.  Andrew DeVogelaere, MBNMS Research Coordinator, Holly Price, WQPP 
Director, and Greg will coordinate with the CBC.  

V.	DISCUSSION: COAST GUARD, GROUP MONTEREY POTENTIAL 
	REDUCTION

The Chair expressed concern about the impacts to the MBNMS if the Coast Guard, Group 
Monterey were to be reduced.  She requested that the Coast Guard Representative to the 
Advisory Council, Dean Lee, provide the group with a briefing on the facts at hand.

Prior to explaining the proposed changes, Lee stated that he was providing a briefing only, 
and was not soliciting support or asking the Sanctuary Advisory Council to take action in 
any way.

Lee explained that the Coast Guard has been forced by mandated budget reductions to make 
cutbacks affecting multiple Coast Guard units around the country.  The state of California, 
and the MBNMS in particular, will be affected in the following manner: 1) the Eleventh 
District will be closed and consolidated with the Pacific Area Command in Alameda.  The 
Area Commander will then be double-hatted to serve as both area commander and Eleventh 
Coast Guard District.  In that capacity, he will oversee all operations on the west coast, 
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Far East.  This action has been approved and 
implementation of the changes will begin soon if not immediately; 2) Under consideration 
at the present is the dis-establishment and division of Coast Guard Group Monterey.  
Group Monterey would be consolidated with Groups San Francisco and Los Angeles/Long 
Beach with the existing operational area divided at the San Luis Obispo/Monterey County 
line.  Group Monterey would be converted to a Station; no boats or cutters will be 
removed.  Therefore, the proposed changes will have no adverse effect on the Coast 
Guard's operational activity and should be transparent to the boating public. The changes 
are still under review and have not yet been approved.  A decision is expected by March 1, 
1996.

Should the proposed Coast Guard restructuring become a reality for Group Monterey, all 
macro-based activities such as the work done on an enforcement plan for the MBNMS 
would then have to be coordinated with Group San Francisco.  Currently, Dean Lee has the 
authority to respond and make decisions on issues facing the Sanctuary.  Under the new 
plan, the ranking officer for a Station would most probably be a Lieutenant.  It is unlikely 
that the Group Commander in San Francisco will be able to attend the Sanctuary Advisory 
Council meetings.  Lee said this responsibility will likely be delegated to the commanding 
officers at Station Monterey.

Advisory Council members suggested the following action:

1) Write the Commandant and local Congressional Representatives to voice Advisory 
Council concerns about the Coast Guard reduction.  The letter should indicate the near 
completion of an agreement on a viable enforcement plan in the MBNMS and that a 
reduction in the Coast Guard would significantly impede these enforcement efforts.  The 
main focus of the letter should be to point out the values of a coordinated enforcement 
effort.

2) Send the same correspondence to all of the congressional delegations including the chair 
of the Committee responsible for the Coast Guard's budget.  

3) Send a strong letter to Governor Wilson describing the loss of a Federal agency and its 
impact for the Sanctuary as well as asking for his support.  

4) Send letters to Secretary Wheeler and Secretary Strock and to representatives of the local 
jurisdictions.  

5) Send a copy of the letter to the California Coastal Commission, Leon Panetta, and 
Assemblyman Bruce McPherson.

A Motion that the Chair sign letters to the above mentioned representatives was approved 
with one abstention from the Coast Guard representative.   


VI.	DISCUSSION: CRUISE SHIPS IN MONTEREY BAY 

In response to an inquiry from the Coast Guard in San Francisco, the Sanctuary was asked 
what the public reaction would be to a cruise line stopping on a regular basis in Monterey 
Bay.  As the official public sounding board for the Sanctuary, the topic was included on the 
agenda in order to learn what the Advisory Council members felt their constituent interests 
would be.  Of paramount concern for everyone was the protection of marine life and 
Sanctuary resources that might be impacted.  Nevertheless, general comments were 
positive about the many educational and economic opportunities that cruise ship passengers 
may provide for the Sanctuary.

The wide attendance from the media and public resulted in a decision by the 
Council to hold a second meeting specifically dedicated to discussion of 
cruise lines in Monterey.  The city of Monterey and surrounding cities will 
be invited to participate.  In addition, all of the cruise lines will be invited 
to give presentations.

VII.	SANCTUARY MANAGERS REPORT 

Terry Jackson provided the Sanctuary manager's report.  (Please see Attachment B.)

With respect to the update on the State Mussel Watch Program, Linda Horning, from 
Assemblyman Bruce McPherson's office, reported that the Assemblyman is carrying a bill 
and has drafted language that has been turned over to the California Environmental 
Protection Agency (CAEPA), the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), and 
the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) requesting funding and/or support for 
the bill.  The bill is expected to be introduced at the end of February.  Jennifer Stanley, 
from Assemblyman McPherson's office in Sacramento, is in charge of the bill, and can be 
contacted should anyone need more detailed information.  Horning commented that support 
for the SMWP appears to be non-controversial thus far, and asked Advisory Council 
members to let her or Jennifer know if they of any opposition.  

Horning concluded by remarking that the Assemblyman is also looking into a finance letter 
to attach to the Governor's budget that would preclude the need for legislation.  She 
reiterated that the message about the SMWP has definitely been sent to the highest 
authorities.

In response to questions about the Sanctuary Foundation, Terry reported that the 
Foundation is currently operating and that every effort is being made to secure a grant from 
the California Department of Fish and Game.  There are a number of problems that NOAA  
and the California Department of Fish and Game general counsels are currently working 
out.
Greg Cailliet expressed the Research Activity Panel's concerns that expenses incurred in 
the process of administering the funds could be detrimental to the Foundation.

VIII.	WORKING GROUP REPORTS

Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP) -- Dorris Welch provided a report on the recent 
activities of the Sanctuary Education Panel which included the following:
… The Sanctuary publication, "Window to the Sanctuary," produced by the Long Marine 
Lab, will be targeted toward locals and school children, will also be useful for tourists.  
Advisory Council members are invited to provide input on any publication about the 
Sanctuary.
… Advisory Council members are encouraged to help distribute flyers and to spread the 
word about the Sanctuary Symposium.  A wide audience is hoped for.  
 Sanctuary members who want to become more involved should contact Dorris Welch.  
Ed Brown and Karin Strasser Kauffman offered to prepare presentations to help bring 
the hospitality industry to the conference.
… The Sanctuary was represented at the Bay Area Environmental Education Resources 
Fair in San Francisco.

The next meeting of the SEP is Thursday, February 8 at the Monterey Bay 
Aquarium Research Institute.  Items on the agenda of interest to the Advisory Council 
include the finalization of the SEP's public goals for the year; i.e. utilizing the media for 
Sanctuary awareness and providing educational material for tourists.  The SEP will also be 
defining their strategies to meet these goals.  The group wants to keep the distinction 
between public relations and education, but realizes the need to have a strong public 
relations campaign for the Sanctuary.

Research Activity Panel (RAP) -- Greg Cailliet provided a report on the group's 
activities which included a discussion of research activities occurring in the northern end of 
the Sanctuary which the RAP is not advised about.  Because there is not a formal 
Memorandum of Understanding between the Gulf of the Farallones NMS and the Monterey 
Bay NMS, and uncertainty exists about the management authority, the RAP requested that 
some movement be made to clarify the questions with the understanding that cooperation 
with the manager of the GFNMS will continue. 
 
A motion that the Advisory Council take steps to resolve the questions of 
management was tabled by the Advisory Council Chair on the grounds that 
it was not a scheduled topic on the current agenda and, therefore should be 
discussed at a future meeting.  Council members requested that the topic be 
placed on the next meeting agenda.

Also discussed at the meeting was: the site characterization project; the on-going work by 
John Calambokidis on humpback whales and associated marine mammals; intertidal 
monitoring projects; the update of the MBNMS Research Plan; putting oceanographic 
detectors on the jetski buoys; the research component of the Sanctuary Symposium; and the 
McArthur research cruise this Spring.  The Working Group welcomed its newest member, 
Jane Caffrey, the new Research Coordinator for the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine 
Research Reserve. 

Greg commented that sediments from Fort Ord will be analyzed and the whole project will 
soon be completed.  50-calibre shells were found in the Fort Ord area and the Army will be 
responsible for cleaning them up.  Pat Cotter will be going out on the ROV to look at some 
of the sites and to investigate the man-made objects found in the former restricted zone.

The next meeting of the RAP is scheduled for Friday, February 2 from 9:00 
a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the conference room of the California Department of 
Fish and Game.
 
Conservation Working Group (CWG) -- Rachel Saunders provided the report on the 
group's activities which included:
… Organizing a panel discussion for the conservation element of the Sanctuary 
Symposium;
… Submitting comments on the MBNMS Scientific Research Plan; 
… Participating in a dialogue with the jetski industry;
… Working to develop a viable enforcement plan for the MBNMS.  Rachel attended a 
meeting with Congressman Farr, State Senator Mello, and others about enforcement in 
the Sanctuary and was very encouraged by the level of importance the issue is being 
given.  Meetings on enforcement in the Sanctuary have also been initiated through the 
BAY NET volunteer program and the local law enforcement agencies.
 Rachel asked if it was possible to have a representative from the 
California Department of Fish and Game on the Advisory Council to 
enhance coordination between the department and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service.  Council members requested that this be a discussion 
topic on the next meeting agenda.
 
Saunders reported that eighteen people are participating in the BAY NET volunteer 
program, the first field docent program for the sanctuary.  Docents are located along the 
recreational trail in Monterey and Pacific Grove every Friday through Sunday.  In addition 
to their role in educating the public, BAY NET volunteers are enhancing voluntary 
compliance within the Sanctuary.

The next meeting of the CWG is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20 from 
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Moss Landing Harbor District Office.

IX.	ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS

1) SAC Public Relations Campaign -- an agenda for the Public Relations workshop 
scheduled for Friday, February 2 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. was provided to Council 
members.  All were encouraged to review the document carefully and come prepared.

2) There will be a Public Hearing on February 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Santa Cruz.   The 
economic survey report produced by the Santa Cruz Economic Development Task Force 
will be presented before the Board of Supervisors at that time.  All Advisory Council 
members are encouraged to attend.


By popular consensus, the next meeting of the Advisory Council will be on 
Friday, March 1, 1996.  The location will be determined.


The meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.


Respectfully submitted, 


Jane M. DeLay
MBNMS Advisory Council Coordinator

Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting Minutes
FINAL - April 30, 1996
Page 3