SAN JUAN COUNTY MARINE RESOURCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

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March 7, 2001 meeting minutes

Members Present: Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, Bill Brant, Brian Calvert, Jim Capron, Rich Osborne, Jim Slocomb, Jean Van Leuven

Absent: Laura Arnold, Mark Billington, Terrie Klinger, Denise Wilk, Dennis Willows

Guests: Judy D’Amore, Kyle Davies, Mike Kaill, Kari Koski, Jodi Smith

Chair Jim Slocomb called to order the regular meeting of the MRC at 8:35 a.m. in the BOCC Meeting Room, Courthouse, Friday Harbor. Minutes of the February 21, 2001 meeting were approved with the following correction: page 1, 2nd under "Forage Fish," lst line: change "dock has been built" to "plans for a proposed dock have been approved..."

Guest Speaker: Helen Venada said that she wanted to propose a project, related to the "human side of foraging" that could tie in with MRC’s fish recovery programs and their sponsorship; she said she would be happy to work with a sub-committee to study the possibilities and to develop a strategy for presenting the idea to the community. Helen circulated the booklet, "Seafood Solutions: A Chef’s Guide to Ecologically Responsible Fish Procurement," produced by a Chefs Collaborative / Environmental Defense partnership. The Guide suggests that restaurateurs and chefs can participate in a sustainable food system (i.e. sustainable menus) by selective fish procurement and can use their menus to educate consumers. The booklet summarizes sustainable seafood issues, lists fish picks based on methods of capture and sourcing, and provides a sustainable suppliers list.

Helen read specific statistics and suggestions for some of the fish species typically served in the Islands and discussed the "Seafood Watch Chart" from the Monterey Bay Aquarium restaurant, with data sources from the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The Guide notes that fish consumption is the primary route of exposure to mercury and PCBs in humans and suggests fish cooking methods that can reduce toxic levels; the issue of farmed vs wild catch was also addressed in the publications, including the fact that farming carnivorous fish, such as shrimp and salmon, requires catching wild fish to sustain them (it takes 3 pounds of wild-caught fish to raise one pound of farmed salmon.)

MRC members discussed the issue and agreed that Brian Calvert, Jim Capron, and Helen should meet to explore the idea further as a tool for local restaurants and fish brokers to make menu choices and to help educate the public on fish sustainability.

Future Guest Speakers: Rich said that Kevin Ryan, coordinator of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge System, would like to speak to MRC on an annual basis; Kari suggested that the Shaw resident who specializes in eelgrass restoration also be invited to make a presentation.

Forage Fish: Jim Slocomb said the contract should be in hand by the 13th; volunteer training starts March 23-25. Shann Westin has been hired as the volunteer coordinator by Friends of the San Juans, who will run the program. The report of the recent Port Townsend meeting is appended.

Bottomfish Recovery Program: Mike Kaill distributed copies of his final report. He said that, as suspected, the data variance test does not hold up. He noted that Figure 7 (bargraph) indicates a non-statistical trend of fish species in decline; he said not a single quillback, for instance, was seen in the Lime Kiln transect dive. Mean size categories are getting smaller each year, some species continue to be absent, and new ones are being added on the "absent" list, he said.

Mike corroborated Kari Koski’s findings that fishers have been documented in the recovery zones when there is no program presence on the water. There was discussion of the costs and need for Soundwatch to run year-round. Kari noted that there is just one boat and one operator at this time; Rich said there is a proposal under discussion for a second boat. Mike said that fishers in the zones fall into four categories: the "bad" guys; the salmon fishers, who fish a lot and will take bottomfish as bycatch; tourists (a potentially heavy effect), who will keep any catch, e.g. 4-6" rockfish for crab bait; locals, who are good at fishing and think there is no problem. Mike suggested that each of these "predator" types be targeted for education for greatest impact. He noted that a sociologist who read his report suggested that encounters with fishers be documented per units of effort to establish a baseline, allowing study of the effects of education efforts. Rich said that The Whale Museum, per contract, will be studying such effects and Kari is preparing a new questionnaire.

Jean VanLeuven said that the education effort will need the cooperation of the media; an Anacortes newspaper, for example, runs a weekly column telling fishers where the fish are, by species; such information is also available on DFW’s website. Brian suggested that the boating community be educated (Yacht Club, Power Squadron) to exert peer pressure. Mike noted that the Pacific Coast Anglers officially endorsed the BFRP early in the study but then backed off because DFW was not on board. It was agreed that MRC support lobbying with such groups, including presentations, in order to convert them to a conservation attitude. Jim Capron suggested aerial survey of the zones. Jim Slocomb said he is willing to work on a large program to develop a fundraising structure.

Rich talked about the $30,000 NWS action grant proposal and distributed drafts for review. He said the final professional proposal will be submitted by the end of next week. The proposal will focus study on Lime Kiln, Charles Island, Bell Island and will include dive surveys, using Eric Eisenhardt’s methodology and access to UW Labs (lab fees as match), picking up from Mike Kaill’s baseline work. The five other sites will be surveyed next year. The second part of the proposal is the acoustic tagging project, developed by the Museum and the Labs fall fish class on lingcod and rockfish; Rich said tracking will be done with the Museum’s hydrophone array. He noted that a lingcod tagged with a 9-month battery hasn’t left the site and is still audible. Tagging studies will help answer the question of whether the reserves are large enough to serve the fish there. The third element of the proposal is the required educational component that will provide live and archived data for DFW, MRC, and TWM websites. Rich added that the Museum’s Sea Sound project is contributing an in-kind match ($150/month for remote sensing network rental).

Kari distributed her memo proposing an MRC motion to extend the BFRP Coordination Contract to the Museum for three years, allowing the Museum to continue fundraising beyond September.

Motion: Brian moved to adopt the document, pending Laura Arnold’s approval; Bill seconded and the motion passed, with Rich abstaining.

Kari circulated copies of her report on February/March activities; she noted that both local news-papers carried extensive fish recovery articles this week.

Brian talked about a new radio disc jockey on KISM, Bellingham called "Rockfish," who recently caught a lingcod and asked viewers if he was right or wrong in doing so. Brian called in and explained the BFRP and, consequently, he and Kari were invited to speak on the morning rock show next Wednesday. Brian will work with the station’s marketing group, proposing an ad in exchange for a specified amount of airplay; no money would be exchanged and no exclusive rights would be given to the BFRP "story." A BFRP poster with KISM mention will also be discussed.

Members requested copies of the "Sportfishing Guide" ad mock-up.

Whale Watching Management Project: The BOCC workshop on local regulations is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mark Spaulding, a San Diego attorney who specializes in this issue, will be making a presentation to the Friends of the San Juans at a later date.

Transborder MPA: Jim Slocomb said the effort is making new friends in Olympia and work continues with Canadian and tribal counterparts.

New/Old Business:

Jim Slocomb attended the MRC Chairs meeting last week, noting that this MRC is far ahead and enjoys a very close relationship with its BOCC, unlike the other MRCs. The group can provide educational materials to MRC’s and the Puget Sound Action Team has a media specialist whose services might be available to provide a broader media presence for MRC. Jim expects the Chairs meeting to be a more regular occurrence.

The Fundraising Seminar is scheduled for April 4th, location to be determined.

Brian will coordinate the effort to develop a list of potential guest speakers for MRC meetings.

There was discussion about a model RFP for commercial boat services. Jean noted that most whale watch boats are committed June through August. Kari mentioned the "Negotiator," a boat out of Port Townsend that has a survey platform and other desirable features. Rich offered that Judy D’Amore has the name of a restored tugboat that could be available at no charge. Jim will flush out a draft RFP.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m. The next meeting will be on March 21.

Helen Venada
Recording Secretary