I also want to specifically support the City’s recommendations regarding keeping the promise made to the fishing community.  We have not been able to get out of the Sanctuary Program an unequivocal statement during this Plan Review that they will not seek to create their own Sanctuary regulations governing fishing.  Perhaps the Monterey City Council could extract that from the Sanctuary officials here today, but I doubt it.  We also, and very painfully, witnessed Senior Sanctuary Staff people, during the State’s Marine Life Protection Act Process, pointing at maps and telling state officials which areas the Sanctuary wanted to place off-limits to fishing.  Back in 1992 this would have been the worst nightmare of the fishing community.  It still is.  We hope the City Council will continue to strongly demand that the Sanctuary keep its promise made to us. 

Lastly, even though this is not directly a fishing issue at all, I’d like to comment on the Personal Watercraft issue.  I ask that the City Council take note how it appears that the Sanctuary is willing to eliminate a whole user group from enjoying Sanctuary waters without any scientific evidence or documentation of a problem.  The reason this issue resonates with the fishing community should be obvious.  We feel like we are also in the crosshairs of being kicked off the water based on the beliefs of Sanctuary Staff people as to what’s good for the environment. 

Thank you, and please know that the fishing community deeply appreciates the continuing support that we have received from the Monterey City Council.