Minutes
June 2 , 2004
Members Present: Laura Arnold, David Hoopes, David Loyd, Kevin Ranker, Kit Rawson, DJ Sessner,
Dennis Willows
Absent: Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, Mike Bertrand, Brian Calvert, Peter Fromm, Terrie Klinger, Mary Masters, Jim Slocomb
Guests: Ray Bigler, Ryan Drum, Josh Green, Dr. Bruce Gunderson, Jody Kennedy, Kari Koski, Claudia Mills, Two Crow
David Loyd, in the absence of Chair Jim Slocomb and Vice Chair Mary Masters, called the non-quorum meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. in the community room at Islanders Bank Annex, Friday Harbor.
Citizens’ comments:
Dr. Gunderson invited members to attend the class presentations at the Labs tomorrow, beginning in the morning with reports on such topics as fish genetics and neurobiology and followed in the evening with dinner. Dennis added that papers on DNA studies in the context of ecological work will also be included. Dr. Gunderson said that of particular interest to the MRC bottomfish recovery project would be presentations on fish foraging studies (i.e. on food habits), on ROV research (as opposed to SCUBA in the area of density monitoring), and on genetics work. David Loyd asked if there has been study on the extent to which the ROV effects fish (e.g. scaring them away or attracting them). Dennis said there are differences by species regarding ROV disturbance.
Minutes: Minutes of the 5/19/04 meeting were approved with the following corrections: on page 1, ¶2, 2nd line replace “they” with “there;” on page 3, last ¶, last line, add “rockfish” after “juvenile.” David Loyd confirmed that recent surveys indicate that the “tens of thousands” of fingerlings in some bays here are salmon; he said that the pinks appear to be right out of the egg, probably flushed out with the Spring runs...which means “we are an estuary.” David Hoopes noted that documenting such information would be very helpful for Shared Salmon Strategy work.
Laura asked for an update on funding for research on eelgrass decline; Two Crow said that he believes Sandy did get funding to do chemical and physiological studies. The major question, he added, is how natural was the die-off, i.e. could it have been caused by disease or chemical process?
Kevin said that the NWSC was asked to convene a panel at last week’s Coastal Society’s International Conference in Rhode Island; he added that the NWSC was very well received by the coastal managers. Kevin was asked to speak on MRC’s, their relevance, and some of the projects they have taken on; he discussed the diversity of the San Juan County MRC and others and the SJC Marine Stewardship Area. He said the overall presence of the NWSC and its excellent reception will likely generate even more interest and funding in the future. In panel discussions by the U.S. Oceans Commission, by state governors, and federal Senators and Representatives as well, on examples of regional ocean councils, the NWSC was plugged as the national example.
Kari said there was a huge meeting yesterday of the Whale Watch Operators Association and all the regional enforcement agencies (WDFW, NMFS, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, SJC Sheriff). She said the all-day meeting tried to hash out all interpretations of the whale watch guidelines and should result in some on-the-water changes in protocol, e.g. boats no longer allowed in the path of whales.
Membership: David Hoopes said that Two Crow’s letter of application has been sent to the BOCC. DJ Sessner is now an official MRC member.
Bottomfish Recovery Zones signage:
Jody said she is putting together the RFP and costs are still unknown; there was discussion on design and materials options. Jody said that, per Joe Gaydos, the Bell Island owners are interested in helping out with the project, including funding. Kari will email to Jody her updated survey on the status of existing signs; she suggested possibly using a whole new message that could include directional arrows to indicate boundaries. Laura said that sign installation on the shoreline is subject to the Shoreline Master Program and permit requirements; she suggested using the permitting procedure as a means to publicize what these signs are about. Laura will put the permit materials together.
David Loyd said it may be time to reassess / redefine the BRZ’s before new signage is developed. Jody said that the BFRP Visions and Goals statement lists as an action item putting together a panel to discuss what zone changes need to be made (e.g. moving boundaries). She suggested a subcommittee to find out other community sources for information about the sites, i.e. holding public meetings before doing the signs’ upgrade. There was discussion on creating an MSA logo.
Red Sea Urchin Proposal:
Kit distributed copies of his thoughts on possible urchin enhancement that includes defining species “enhancement” versus “aquaculture;” his paper suggests that potential ecological effects be studied with regard to the sea urchin proposal. Dennis said that little is known on the impacts of introduction; the potential exists, he added, as seen with salmon, to harm genetically and environmentally, and to harm on species of interest (e.g. hatchery-raised salmon may be eating other fishes we’re trying to protect). He advised that it would be a mistake to blunder as before in trying to get a free lunch out of either an aquaculture or hatchery process. Kit said that we’ve learned a lot with salmon hatcheries and several papers and books have been written on the subject. He added that we’ve just gone through the hatchery scientific review process for every hatchery in Puget Sound and were asked what the objective was for each program. He suggested that the question, “What are you trying to do?” be asked of the proposers and then look into better all alternatives to accomplish that. All options need to be considered. A lot of salmon enhancement, he said, was intentionally designed, e.g. so that people could put dams in the Columbia River to bring electricity to a large area, including the San Juan Islands. Another question to ask about enhancement, Kit said, is whether the goal is to restore something to harvestable levels or to continually enhance production so harvesting can go on at higher levels. He said that, based on his Internet research, the main objective for sea urchin culture in Maine, California, and New Zealand is to sell product to Japan (i.e. harvest); Laura said this seems to be true for the San Juan proposal as well.
Five potential hazards to wild populations come up in hatchery programs (disease pathogen introduction, overharvest of wild organisms when mixed with hatchery fish, genetic changes due to interbreeding, ecological effects from competition and predation, and masking of the true status of wild populations with incorrect identification). Kit added that salmon hatchery reform is trying to minimize these hazards. Kevin noted that there is documentation in southern California that new diseases in marine mammals and fish are coming from run-off. Kit will email a compendium of the Internet websites he researched to Jody for inclusion on the MRC webpage.
Jody will research what process is underway for the proposal...regulatory bodies involved? timeline? proposers? specific location? Kevin said that Senator Maria Cantwell has been outspoken in favor of some aquaculture. The question was raised about how the proposal fits with MSA goals. It was agreed that the MRC needs to study the issue and develop a position on it.
New/Old Business:
David Hoopes said that the Puget Sound Hatchery Plan EIS process is underway for salmon and steelhead; NOAA is inviting public comment and suggested alternatives. David will forward the URL to Jody.
Jody gave an update on the GSX pipeline project; she said the permit was approved by the SJC Hearing Examiner. Laura said that no one but representatives from Williams and county staff spoke at the hearing. The decision is appealable to the BOCC and from there to the Shoreline Hearings Board. The MRC, as a party of written record, can
submit further testimony before May 28th. Laura said that DOE denied the Coastal Zone Management consistency certification for which Williams will re-apply. Whatcom County will be dealing with their permit. Laura said she’s unsure of the status of the jurisdictional argument that came from the Fuel Safe Washington suit. Laura added that Barry Wenger of DOE said that Williams has postponed its right-of-way acquisitions in Whatcom County and, therefore, may not be proceeding; BC Hydro is also faltering. Kevin warned that if Williams does proceed, the MRC, Friends of the San Juans, and Fuel Safe Washington need to partner with bigger players such as the NRDC and Oceana. More will be learned on the issue after the meeting with Islands Trust. Further discussion followed.
Citizens’ comments:
Ryan Drum said that geoducks can now be harvested with pressure hoses managed by divers. There is no mention of pre-harvest impacts to the seabed. Geoduck mining couldbegin in San Juan County pending official county approval. David Loyd said he saw some evidence on Waldron Bank that may be the beginning of such harvest. He noted that Joe Gaydos has done research on the issue. Kevin suggested that if the SeaDoc and the MRC came up with an opinion on geoduck harvest here it could be presented to the NWSC; although the Commission has no regulatory authority it has a very favorable reputation.
Kari said that the Canadian Species At Risk Act went into effect yesterday so that killer whales will be afforded additional protection enforcement.
Kari said the NMFS will hold a public meeting on Saturday to discuss the transboundary recovery process.
Kevin distributed copies of “Making Waves,” the national publication of the Surfrider Foundation, December 2003 edition.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
Submitted by Helen Venada
