Minutes
August
6, 2003
Members Present: Mike Bertrand, Tim Carpenter, Peter Fromm, Terrie
Klinger, David Loyd, Mary Masters, Rich Osborne, Kevin Ranker,
Kit Rawson, Jim Slocomb, Dennis Willows
Absent:
Laura Arnold, Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, Brian Calvert
Guests:
Susan Bucknell, Shannon Davis, Ryan Drum, Claudia Mills
Chair
Jim Slocomb called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. in the Community
Room at Islanders' Bank, Friday Harbor.
Minutes:
Review of the minutes of the July 2, 2003 meeting was held over
to the first meeting in September. The July 16, 2003 minutes were
approved with Kit's email revision.
Proposed Marine Stewardship Area:
Jim expressed his concern that there has not been much community
response to the outreach meetings. He mentioned the recent Roche
Harbor meeting, in particular, that was very well advertised but
poorly attended. Jim asked for creative ideas from the committee
in order get more input up front from the community and, especially,
from marine user groups; discussion followed. The need to get
more survey questionnaires distributed was emphasized.
New/Old
Business:
Shannon announced that she will be resigning from the MRC Coordinator
position in late September to take a job with Friends of the San
Juans. Jim noted that the need to hire a new Coordinator brings
up the issue of the MRC finding its own office space (and phone
number); discussion followed.
Details
of the MRC exhibit at the San Juan County Fair were discussed.
Jim
said that the Washington Department of Ecology's Public Involvement
and Education grant process is now open; he suggested accessing
DOE's website for details.
Kevin
said the NWSC meeting will be held on August 29th at the Islander
on Lopez Island; he said it was important for MRC members to attend
this meeting. Jim will get on the agenda to do a presentation
on the marine stewardship proposal. Kevin noted that SJC's MRC
was recognized at the last NWSC meeting for getting its grant
in early in the process.
Jim
said that he will be leaving at the end of August for points North
for two months.
Jim
announced that the MRC conference will be held in Port Townsend
on October 24th.
Presentation
on PEW Ocean Commission and U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy:
Kevin gave an overview of the recent PEW Commission report. He
explained that this, the first independent national commission
on oceans in 30 years, was established 2 years ago and is made
up of 18 commissioners, chaired by Leon Paneta. The Commission
developed four sub-committees focused on governance, pollution,
fishing, and coastal development. Seven scientific reports have
been published on coastal sprawl, effects of fishing, marine reserves,
managing fisheries, introduced species, aquatics, and marine pollution.
Public hearings were held as well as focused stakeholder meetings
with several groups and organizations.
Kevin
said that he hoped MRC members recognize why it is important to
convince the BOCC to submit letters to our congressional delegation
and governor supporting recommendations of the PEW report and
addressing recommendations of the final U.S. Ocean Commission
report.
.
The four conclusions identified were: (1) that there is clear
evidence of rapid decline of oceans and current management is
inadequate; (2) that the nation must cherish oceans as a public
trust; (3) that ecosystem management is necessary; and (4) that
we must come to understand the land-sea connection.
Kevin
said that the U.S. Commission on Oceans was created as part of
the Oceans Act of 2000, has 16 members (William Ruckleshaus and
Marc Hershman are the two Washington state members), and is chaired
by retired U.S. Navy Admiral James D. Watkins. The Commission's
mandate includes stewardship of marine reserves, pollution prevention,
enhancing marine science, commerce and development. Kevin said
that he and Rhea Miller, Chair of the BOCC, presented to the U.S.
Commisision on Ocean Policy. "A bottoms up approach was critical
to the success of any program, ensuring local support of the necessary
conservation measures," per the NOAA Sand Point presentation.
Kevin's
PowerPoint presentation discussed the PEW Recommendations and
themes from background reports from the U.S. Commisision on Ocean
Policy's website. The PEW Commission recommended that federal
agencies working on marine-related issues be consolidated into
a national oceans agency. The PEW Commission also recommended
that a comprehensive national policy be enacted with ecologically
sustainable goals.
Kevin
said a very probable recommendation from the U.S. Commisision
on Ocean Policy will be to establish permanent federal and regional
oceans councils; these would have no operational authority and
would act as advisory committees only.
Kevin
briefly discussed other recommendations of both Commissions, such
as bycatch monitoring, nonpoint source pollution on a watershed
basis, dedicated funds for critical habitat (which "does
not require plan development"), and expansion of the Coastal
Zones Management Act.
Kevin
warned that the U.S. Commisision on Ocean Policy recommendation
may discuss weakening the "harassment" definition in
the Marine Mammal Protection Act (e.g. sound distubance). The
PEW Commission recommended a moratorium on all sound disturbance
until the research data is in hand.
Kevin
said that the first draft report is in circulation now. Issue
resolution and development of the second draft is the current
phase in the process. At the Pacific Fisheries Management Council
meeting on September 8th and 9th in Seattle there will be an opportunity
for the public to speak, although this is not a public hearing.
Public comments will go on the public record for NOAA but not
for PEW. A final draft will be released in October to all 50 governors
who will be required to provide comments by November 3rd in preparation
for the final report to the President and Congress.
Kevin
strongly emphasized that the public comment period is now and
letters need to be sent to Governor Locke, with follow-up letters
to our Congressional representatives soon after. Kevin provided
draft text for a letter addressed to the Governor on "points
important in Washington state for these reasons...."
Kevin
said that Terry Williams pointed out that nowhere in this process
are the tribes involved at all. Terry suggested adding a paragraph
to the letter with the requirement to consult with the tribes,
as co-managers, before moving this forward. Kevin asked that this
language be added to his draft letter to the governor; NWSC's
letter already includes this language and Kevin will email it
to members.
Motion: Kit moved, and Peter recommended, that the MRC submit
Kevin's draft letter to the BOCC, with the added language from
the NWSC's letter that provides for tribal inclusion, as co-managers,
in the process. The motion passed unanimously. Comments
on the draft letter should be emailed to Kevin this week so that
the MRC can get it on the BOCC agenda soon. Claudia Mills suggested
that the letter include a reference to the issue of sound; a consensus
agreed that this significant comment on the acoustic environment
needs to be written into the letter. All voted in favor.
The
next outreach meeting is scheduled on Shaw Island for August 20th
(quorum is requested). Arrangements were made for boating to the
public outreach meeting on Waldron Island next Saturday.
The next regular meeting will be held on September 3rd at 8:30
a.m. in Islanders Bank, Friday Harbor
The
meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
Submitted
by Helen Venada
