2005
MRC Work Plan
Approved
by the Board of County Commissioners on April 19th, 2005
MSA |
Objective: Develop a Marine Stewardship Area Plan |
Phase II |
Building
on existing documents, such as the Paisley Report, and the outreach
meeting findings, draft a document that describes the phases for
developing and implementing the MSA. This will include strategies for
the ecological assessment and the development of management
recommendations, as well as an analysis of proposals that develop from
the MSA process.
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Objective: Incorporate Science into the Development of the MSA |
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- Convene a group of key players to work with the MRC to:
• set objectives, priorities and criteria for the response of the
marine ecosystem to the protection measures defined in the zone scheme;
• build from the first step and incorporate both anecdotal and
scientific data to develop voluntary and desired regulatory management
measures for the zone scheme.*
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Objective: Continue Collection of Marine Resources Data |
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- Develop
and implement projects to assess human impacts, such as boat traffic,
fishing pressure, etc. Utilize partnerships with existing
organizations, businesses and individuals to conduct both dedicated and
opportunistic surveys on human use data in the existing preserves
within the MSA.
- Continue to compile
and coordinate data from Co-Managers, NGOs, agencies, University of
Washington, and local governments that pertain to the San Juan
Islands.*
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Objective: Use GIS as a Tool |
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- Continue to produce maps to accompany community outreach and education efforts for the Marine Stewardship Area.*
- Update
current MSA maps to reflect new marine resources data, anecdotal data,
and outcomes from ecological assessments, and the development of
management strategies.*
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Objective: Continue Outreach to Communities and Stakeholder Groups |
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- Hold
community outreach meetings in identified communities: Shaw, Orcas,
Olga, East Sound, West Sound, Deer Harbor , Fisherman's Bay, South
Lopez, Blakely & Decatur, Westcott & Garrison Bay , Henry &
Roche, False Bay Watershed, Friday Harbor , Stuart & Johns &
Spieden, and Waldron.*
- Conduct community outreach meetings with tribes with U&A fishing rights in the county.
- Continue presentations to stakeholder groups, including recreation groups, fishermen, chambers of commerce, etc.
- Launch the Big Mother rockfish educational campaign.**
- Host tables at events.
- Promote
partnerships with existing community outreach programs in the county to
share MSA information through their programs and/or education centers.*
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Promote |
Objective: Work with County Processes |
MSA Values |
- Participate
in the critical areas ordinance updates and the shorelines master
program to ensure that the stewardship area objectives are incorporated
into county decision making processes and policy.*
- Work
toward the adoption of the Westcott-Garrison Bay Marine Conservation
Plan, working with local residents, the State DNR, the National Park
Service, the oyster farm, and others interested in the area.
- Work
with the Port and the Town to remove derelict vessels that pose a risk
to marine resources or navigation through the DNR program.
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Objective: Work with Marine Managers |
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- Encourage the fishery co-managers to adopt resource management plans that forward Marine Stewardship Area objectives:*
- Promote
specific fishing regulations that will help meet MSA objectives in
WDFW's public process for adopting fishing regulations.
- Request
data from the co-managers regarding the incidental mortality of
non-target species in recreational and commercial fisheries in the San
Juans.
- Request human impacts data from local site managers, and compile these data into one county-wide database.
- Request
that local site managers communicate the MSA message to visitors and
provide local site managers with MRC materials to help them do this.
- Request that the Washington Department of Ecology continue and expand the JEMS water quality monitoring program.
- Request data from the Friday Harbor Laboratories regarding the status of the non-food species for which they are responsible.
- Support
NWSC's efforts to investigate opportunities for State Parks, USFWS, and
NPS and other agencies to acquire and protect tidelands that are
significant to achieving MSA objectives.
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Objective: Educate Residents and Visitors |
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- Produce and distribute laminated maps.
- Replace BRZ Signs.
- Maintain an advertisement on the back page of the WDFW sport-fishing guide.
- Partner
with businesses, agencies and organizations doing marine
outreach/education to use same MSA language, maps and information to
further promote MSA vision and promote best practices.*
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Objective: Monitor Existing Reserves |
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- Conduct dive surveys on the BRZs and reference sites to follow-up on Eisenhardt study, 2002.*
- Conduct fishing pressure assessments of BRZs and reference sites.
- Utilize
partnerships with existing organizations, businesses and individuals to
conduct both dedicated and opportunistic surveys on human use in the
existing preserves within the MSA.
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Objective: Encourage Student Participation |
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- Continue
to invite classes at the FH Labs to participate in meetings, share
research with the committee, and work with the committee to incorporate
the best available science into management practices.*
- Hire one or two student interns and provide them with some stipend, possibly through the FH Labs. Internship Ideas:
• Strategic Plan for the MSA project: Perform a policy analysis
for the proposals that develop from the MSA process, such as a zone
scheme with restricted/multi-use areas, the development of more MPAs,
and/or greater regulatory authority, etc.
• Explore the relationship between the MRC and co-managers in the
San Juans, considering opportunities for partnerships.
• Explore opportunities for transboundary cooperation in marine management.
• Develop and implement strategies for incorporating Marine
Stewardship Area concepts into curriculum for k-12, tribal school,
summer camps, and marine science education institutions.
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Assist |
Objective: Carry out salmon recovery lead entity functions for San Juan County |
Salmon Recovery |
- Solicit,
review, and recommend salmon recovery projects at the local level to
forward to the State Salmon Recovery Funding Board.
- Complete and Review San Juan County 's Chapter in the Shared Strategy Salmon Recovery Plan.
- Work with local salmon recovery partners to implement the recovery plan for San Juan County.
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* projects may continue in 2006
** pending funding outside the NWSC
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