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

January 6, 2004

Fernando Armenta, Chair
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
60 West Market Street, Suite 110
Salinas, CA 93901

RE: Support Monterey County’s Recreational and Commercial Fishing Industry With
Recommendations Made to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments

Dear Chair Armenta:

Our organization, the Alliance for Communities for Sustainable Fisheries (ACSF), has been organized to represent the economic, social, and cultural interests of the recreational and commercial fishing industry in the geographic region from Port San Luis (Avila Beach) to Pillar Point Harbor in San Mateo County. As the name applies, we are committed to the preservation of sustainable fisheries and link fishing activities with the greater communities that support our industry. Resolutions supporting the efforts of the ACSF have been adopted by the city councils of Monterey and Morro Bay, by the elected commissions of the San Mateo County, Moss Landing and Port San Luis Harbor Districts, and the Santa Cruz Port District.

We are writing to ask the Board of Supervisors to endorse two specific recommendations and to bring some economic “good news” to your attention.

The first recommendation is regarding the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. We ask that the Board go on record as reaffirming the original promise which was made to the fishing community that the Sanctuary Program would not seek to manage fisheries, nor would it regulate fishing activities. This promise made was in exchange for the fishermen’s support of sanctuary status, which is widely understood to never have occurred had it not been for support from the fishermen. Indeed, in a January 31, 2002 letter from Congressman Sam Farr, the Congressman states:

“In the process of building support for the designation of the sanctuary, a clear commitment was made to the fishing community that the sanctuary would not impose any regulations directed at fishing activities or fishing vessels. This agreement is based on the understanding that the fisheries within the sanctuary are already being regulated and that there is neither the necessity nor the resources for the National Marine Sanctuary Program to take on this responsibility. This management plan review process should not be used as a means toward altering this basic agreement. The regulation of fishing in the sanctuary should remain under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Fish and Game and the Pacific Fisheries Management Council. Any future reexamination of this relationship should be conducted directly with representatives of the fishing community and these two agencies.”

We ask that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution that would communicate to the Sanctuary Program Monterey County’s wish that this promise be kept. We are concerned that, should the Sanctuary use its own authority to create fishing regulations, it would cause great economic uncertainty and real damage to the fishing industry, in addition to a loss of public credibility for the Sanctuary for breaking its promise.

Our second request is in regard to the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments. We ask that Monterey County strongly endorse an independent and careful review by AMBAG, of the purpose and functions of the Sanctuary Advisory Council, which operates under the authority of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

CONTINUED