Aliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries
P O Box 1309, Carmel Valley, CA 93924 (831) 659-2838

This has not proven to be the case. Fishermen do have to worry about the Sanctuary bureaucracy and its assertions of regulatory power, even over the Department of Fish & Game and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. As mentioned above, community members believed that they would have a vehicle in the SAC for strong local representation. This, however, has not proven to be the case thus far. Lastly, our harbor members tell us that promises were made that the Sanctuary would not be in a regulatory role over dredging operations. However, the Sanctuary has asserted this authority, with the result being added time and cost delays in dredging permitting with no added value. Numerous federal, state and local agencies already weigh in on dredge material disposal.

It is therefore our recommendation to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors that the MBNMS is not ready to expand. Many of our concerns apply to the National Marine Sanctuary Program as a whole. If citizens want to work toward a superior ocean resources management agency, they would be best served by focusing on the problems in the Program as they exist today, and solving those problems. Or, alternatively, support the fledgling Marine Interests Group as a non-regulatory, coordinating body to improve resource management. We deeply hope that the Sanctuary Program will outgrow its difficulties and be the partner with the fishing community that we had originally envisioned. Until that time, our organization cannot support Sanctuary expansion and we urge the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors to establish the same position.

Thank you for considering these thoughts.

Sincerely,

Mike Ricketts, Co-Chair, ACSF

Kathy Fosmark, Co-Chair, ACSF

Supporting Associations & Organizations
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association
Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Monterey Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Fishermen’s Association of Moss Landing
Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Fishermen’s Alliance
Western Fishboat Owners Association
Ventura County Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters
Golden Gate Fishermen's Association

C: The Honorable Sam Farr
The Honorable Anna Eshoo
The Honorable Lois Capps
The Honorable Elton Gallegly
The Honorable Richard Pombo
The Honorable Bruce McPherson
Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, USN (ret.)
Dr. William Hogarth, National Marine Fisheries Service
Don Hanson, Chair, PFMC
Dan Basta, Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Bill Douros, Superintendent, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
SAC for Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
SAC for Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
SAC for Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary