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

Commercial and Recreational Fishing – we have previously corresponded with the AMBAG Board for these two seats and believe that our recommendation is detailed and fair.

At Large Seats – we have previously recommended that each of the three County Board of Supervisors (Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo) be able to select one each as their representatives. With the northern portion of the Sanctuary now being managed by the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, we do not believe that there is a need for San Mateo to be represented on the Monterey Sanctuary SAC, but if there was a need then the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors could make the selection.

Agriculture – accept the recommendation from the Monterey County Farm Bureau that the six county Coalition of Central Coast County Farm Bureaus select its SAC representative. This seems to be very straightforward and inclusive.

Diving – there is only one diving organization in the Sanctuary region and that is CenCal, which represents all of the individual diving clubs throughout our area. CenCal should take the lead to create their recommendations for SAC membership.

Tourism – the Monterey and Santa Cruz County Convention and Visitor Bureaus, as the two main organizations for this region, should caucus, incorporating comments from San Luis Obispo County and San Mateo County as needed, to create SAC seat selections. Recommend also that AMBAG, at the staff level, ask for a meeting with representatives of these two organizations, to identify a fair process.

Business – it was correctly pointed out at the last AMBAG meeting there are a multitude of business associations and chambers throughout this region. The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Cruz County Council of Business could be asked to work together and caucus with the other groups in each of their regions to identify Business SAC representatives. These organizations could easily identify and communicate with smaller organizations within their area to find out whether they are interested in participating in this decision making or not. As long as their efforts are inclusive, rather than exclusive, meaning that any legitimate organization that wants to participate, can, then there should be no issue in this.

Recreation – This seat is supposed to represent other non-fishing, non-diver recreational uses of the Sanctuary. This could include surfers, windsurfers, paddlers, and beachgoers generally. One recreational group, a Hawaiian Paddle Club, did write to request AMBAG to help create a fairer system for SAC selection. This seat has not been particularly controversial, in as much as the recreation representatives appear to be trying to outreach to their stakeholders.

RECOMMENDATION #4:
Consider directing AMBAG staff to prepare a grant application to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for sufficient yearly funding to task an AMBAG staff person with the job of monitoring constituent group caucusing for the selection process. Since SAC seats are for three-year terms, this should not be viewed as an overly burdensome process, particularly if the replacement of the different seats can be staggered throughout the three-year period. We doubt that it would require more than 15-20% of a staff person’s time, if that. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation would be a logical source of grant funding, as this type of change is clearly in the best interest of the Sanctuary Program for it to realize full community support. If in the event they could not or choose not to fund this grant request, then the community foundations of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties could possibly also be a source of staff funding. While we do not think this staff monitoring is required, it would be helpful, at least until the selection procedure is fully in place.

We can’t stress enough that these recommendations and changes are in the best interest of the Sanctuary Program and AMBAG has and will play an important role in insuring a successful, federal-local relationship in advising of mutual conservation goals for this region.
Thank you for considering these recommendations.

Sincerely,

Mike Ricketts, Co-Chair, ACSF

Kathy Fosmark, Co-Chair, ACSF

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