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

presenting the full array of critical thinking. Again, we do not think that this bewilderment is limited to fishermen; other members of the science community will be lead to wonder about PISCO’s objectivity as well. For your information, the Shipp Report has been peer reviewed and will be reissued by the author early in 2003.

Possibly the most surprising activity on the part of PISCO that made many wonder about PISCO’s objectivity, lies in the format of its three “media workshops on the science of Marine Reserves” on the West Coast. Apparently these workshops were put on in Corvalis, Oregon, and La Jolla, California prior to our learning of an upcoming workshop to be held at the National Marine Fisheries Lab in Santa Cruz. At the workshops in Oregon and in La Jolla, and as was proposed for Santa Cruz, the public was excluded from the workshops and only selected media representatives invited. Specifically excluded were journalists writing for major fishing publications – puzzling for an interdisciplinary partnership.
Additionally, the topics at the workshops were not merely the science of Marine Reserves, but also the results of a public opinion poll. This public opinion poll is so biased in its construction that it is truly laughable. We don’t understand what opinion poll results have to do with science. PISCO should consider the impression given that it was to lead journalists to a particular conclusion. With regards to the Santa Cruz media workshop, after representatives from the fishing community learned of the workshop and strongly objected, two fishing representatives were finally able to get an invitation after much initial resistance on the part of PISCO. However, representatives from the fishing publications, including major national fishing magazines such as Pacific Fishing, were still excluded, and the fishing representatives were not allowed to speak or ask questions. Please consider the message that these events conveyed, that PISCO did not want to have anyone participate in these media workshops who might ask critical questions or challenge the information being presented in any way. No critical thinking on a University campus?

We hope that PISCO will reflect on the impressions that have been created. The Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries expects PISCO to be objective and strongly science-based. We are so concerned that we will be requesting of the California Department of Fish & Game that they not represent the PISCO report as it is currently written as the best and most complete science on Marine Reserves, as they recently did by providing a copy of “The Science of Marine Reserves” to each MLPA panel member in our area. We will ask the Department of Fish & Game to provide a copy of Dr. Ray Hilborn’s statement and also provide a copy of the Shipp Report when it is republished early in 2003. We will also request the same of the National Marine Sanctuary Program.

The Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries and people who fish generally, want to have a constructive and mutually educational relationship with the science community on a topic as important as the sustainability of our ocean resources. We are very willing to work with PISCO and the science community at large in developing what truly is the best available science on these important topics. Indeed, we have been offering for some time the experience of our on-the-water observations. Our at-sea experience (in some cases 200 plus days a year for 30-40 years) will add to the empirical base needed to develop valid data and tested scientific hypothesis. We want to help! PISCO, however, also needs to reflect on the impressions which its actions have given, and on its objectivity. We need PISCO to do good science, and to be watchful of dismissing evidence that contradicts (or at least greatly constrains) the far-reaching conclusions PISCO appears to want to implement.

Sincerely,

Mike Ricketts, Co-Chair, ACSF

Kathy Fosmark, Co-Chair, ACSF

ACSFSupporting 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 Association, Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Fishermen’s Alliance, Western Fish Boat Owners Association
Ventura County Commercial Fishermen’s Association, Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters
Golden Gate Fishermen's Association, Port San Luis Harbor District
City of Morro Bay Harbor, City of Monterey Harbor
Moss Landing Harbor District, Santa Cruz Port District
Pillar Pt. Harbor, San Mateo County Harbor District
C: The Honorable Sam Farr, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
The Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy , National Science Foundation
Michael Flores, President, CFG Commission, Robert Hight, Director, CDFG
Bill Douros, Superintendent, MBNMS' Stephanie Harlan, Chair, MBNMSAC
Enclosure