CALIFORNIA POLICY UPDATE

JUNE 2011
COMPASS provides this newsletter to alert California-based marine scientists to relevant policy developments and opportunities. If you want more information, have items to contribute, or have comments about the newsletter, contact Toni Mizerek at tmizerek@compassonline.org or 831-648-7988.

KEY EVENTS

STATE LEGISLATURE

STATE AGENCIES

CONGRESS

FEDERAL AGENCIES

KEY EVENTS
Upcoming
July 7 - San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Center Location: San Francisco http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/meetings/ commission/cm_mtng.shtml July 7-8 - The National Academies, Ocean Studies Board Location: Irvine http://dels.nas.edu/Upcoming-Event/OceanStudies-Board-meeting/AUTO-8-28-42-M July 13-15 - CA Coastal Commission Location: Santa Rosa http://www.coastal.ca.gov/mtgcurr.html July 21 - San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Center Location: Oakland http://www.bcdc.ca.gov/meetings/ commission/cm_mtng.shtml July 21 - CA Coastal Conservancy Location: TBD http://scc.ca.gov /

Recent
June 15-17 - CA Coastal Commission Location: Marina del Ray http://www.coastal.ca.gov/mtgcurr.html June 29-30 - Fish and Game Commission Location: Stockton http://www.fgc.ca.gov/meetings/ 2011/2011mtgs.asp June 30 - National Ocean Council, regional listening session Location: San Francisco http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/ eop/oceans/

STATE LEGISLATURE
State Parks: AB 42
Assemblymember Huffman June 20, Passed Senate Natural Resources and referred to Senate Appropriations This bill would authorize the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into contracts with qualified nonprofit organizations to assist with state park operations. For the bill description, search for AB42 at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.

Food Labeling: Genetically Engineered Food. AB 88

Assemblymember Huffman May 27, Assembly Appropriations This bill would require the labeling of all genetically engineered salmon entering and sold within the state. For the bill description, search for AB88 at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.

Ocean Resources: Ocean Protection Council: Sustainable Seafood. AB 337

Assemblymember Monning June 21, Senate Committee on Appropriations This bill would provide that the voluntary sustainable seafood program, each component of the program, and actions taken by the council to implement the program are not regulations for the purposes of the Administrative Procedures Act. The OPC will develop the programs protocol through a transparent process and adopt it in a public meeting. For the bill description, search for AB337 at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.

Shark Fins: AB 376

Assemblymember Fong June 28, Passed Senate Natural Resources and Water, re-referred to Senate Appropriations This bill would prohibit the sale, trade, distribution and possession of shark fins in the state of California. The bill includes exemptions for some research, as well as for existing, legal commercial and recreational shark fisheries in California. For the bill description, search for AB376 at http:// www.leginfo.ca.gov.

Marine Fisheries: Forage Species. AB 1299

Assemblymember Huffman June 28, Passed Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife, referred to Senate Appropriations This bill would recognize the value of forage species in the ocean, require that any new fishery regulations for forage species account for their value as prey, prevent new fisheries from developing on currently unexploited forage species, and prioritize human consumption of forage species over their use as animal feed or fertilizer. For the bill description, search for AB1299 at http:// www.leginfo.ca.gov.

STATE AGENCIES
CA Fish & Wildlife Strategic Vision - First Public Meeting
The Executive Committee met to begin implementation of AB 2376. This legislation is intended to establish a long-term goal to improve and enhance the Department of Fish and Games capacity and effectiveness in fulfilling its public trust responsibilities for the protection and management of the states fish and wildlife, for their ecological values, and for the benefit of the people of the state. The CA Natural Resources Agency will convene a cabinet-level committee to develop a strategic vision for the Department of Fish and Game and the Fish and Game Commission, and will submit it to the governor and Legislature. The Blue Ribbon Citizen Commissioners were appointed and the Stakeholder Advisory Group application process is open until July 13. http://www.vision.ca.gov/

Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative

Five regions in California are working to establish a statewide network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Each Regional Stakeholder Group designs MPA proposals for a study region. Once MPA proposals are completed they undergo scientific and policy review, and are ultimately approved or denied by the California Fish and Game Commission, which is the final decision making body in the MLPA process. Regulations have been adopted on the central, north-central, and south coast. North Coast Region - California/Oregon border to Alder Creek In February, the Fish and Game Commission received the Science Advisory Teams analysis, the Department of Fish and Games feasibility analysis, the Department of Parks and Recreations evaluation, and recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Task Force for the north coast study region. MLPA staff addressed shortcomings identified in the DFG feasibility analysis and reported to the Fish and Game Commission. During the June meeting, the FGC selected a proposed MPA network project with an option for tradition tribal gathering and the regulatory and environmental review process will be initiated. This option will allow tribal gathering to continue in SMCAs (not SMRs), by specific tribal users, where a factual record can be established that shows ancestral take or tribal gathering practices by a federallyrecognized tribe in that specific MPA, and by allowing only those tribes to take specified species with specified gear types. San Francisco Bay Region A project is underway to develop the marine protected area planning options report that will consider the study region setting, including the socioeconomic and jurisdictional settings, existing planning and restoration efforts, overlap with current projects, informational needs of the community, and anticipated resources needed for implementation. The options report will also consider planning processes that have taken place within the study region, as well as lessons learned from previous marine protected area planning processes.

Additional Updates
South Coast MPA Monitoring Plan - Revised Draft Plan
All public comment on the draft South Coast MPA Monitoring Plan has been reviewed by the Monitoring Enterprise and revisions have been made to the monitoring plan. The revised draft plan was submitted for consideration by the California Fish and Game Commission at the June meeting and is available to view: http://monitoringenterprise.org/where/southcoast.php

CONGRESS
Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2011. S. 46
Jan 25: Introduced by Senator Inouye (HI) May 25: Passed through Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation This bill would amend the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (CRCA) to shift the focus of CRCA activities to address ecosystems, require development of a national coral reef ecosystem action strategy, and make anyone who injures a coral reef liable for the damages. http://hdl.loc.gov/ loc.uscongress/legislation.112s46

Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments of 2011. H.R. 738
Feb 16: Introduced by Representative Bordallo (GU) Feb 18: Referred to Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs This bill notably incorporates the concept of resilience into coral reef conservation activities. It would extend the award of remaining coral reef conservation program grant funds to appropriate projects, including monitoring and assessment, research, pollution reduction, education, and technical support. H.R. 738 aims to: (1) minimize injury to a coral reef or loss of an ecosystem function resulting from human activities; and (2) stabilize, repair, or restore the reef. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/ legislation.112hr738

Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2011. S. 630

Mar 17: Introduced by Senator Murkowski (AK) May 26: Passed through Committee on Energy and Natural Resources The bill would authorize the Department of Energy to expand its research and development on marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112s630

West Coast Ocean Protection Act. S. 171

Jan 25: Introduced by Senator Boxer (CA) Referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A bill to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently prohibit the conduct of offshore drilling on the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. http:// hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112s171

National Endowment for the Ocean. S. 973

May 12: Introduced by Senator Whitehouse (RI) Referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation This bill would create a trust fund to be used to promote the protection and conservation of marine ecosystems, including grants to local and regional bodies. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation. 112s973

Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary Boundary Modification and Protection Act. H.R. 192
Jan 5: Introduced by Representative Woolsey (CA) Jan 26: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs This bill would expand the boundaries of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) and the Cordell Bank NMS. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112hr192

Endangered Salmon Predation Prevention Act. H.R. 946

Mar 8: Introduced by Representative Hastings (WA) June 14: Hearings held: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs This bill would allow killing of sea lions to reduce predation on endangered Columbia River salmon, http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112hr946

Implementing the recommendations of the BP Oil Spill Commission Act of 2011. H.R. 501
Jan 26: Introduced by Representative Markey (MA) Feb 25: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections This bill would build on the spill response bill passed by the House last year, updated to implement the recommendations of the Presidents commission. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation. 112hr501

Coastal Jobs Creation Act. H.R. 594

Feb 9: Introduced by Representative Pallone (NJ) Feb 18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment This bill would promote coastal jobs creation, promote sustainable fisheries and fishing communities, and revitalize waterfronts through such programs as cooperative research in fisheries management, preservation or restoration of coastal resources, redevelopment of waterfronts and ports, and cooperative research on fishery and marine mammal stock assessments. http://hdl.loc.gov/ loc.uscongress/legislation.112hr594

Marine Debris Act Reauthorization Amendments of 2011. H.R. 1171

Mar 17: Introduced by Representative Farr (CA) Mar 21: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs The bill would reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act by requiring the Administrator of NOAA to in part investigate, identify sources of, assess, reduce, remove, and prevent the occurrence of marine debris and to address and prevent adverse impacts of such debris on the marine environment, navigation safety, and the economy. http://hdl.loc.gov/ loc.uscongress/legislation.112hr1171

Reversing President Obamas Offshore Moratorium Act. H.R. 1231

Mar 29: Introduced by Representative Hastings (WA) May 17: Placed on Senate legislative calendar This bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to direct the Secretary to determine a domestic strategic production goal for the development of oil and natural gas, to make available for leasing and conduct lease sales in the 50% of the available and unleased outer continental shelf planning area. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112hr1231

Fishery Science Improvement Act of 2011. H.R. 2304

Jun 22: Introduced by Representative Wittman (VA) Jun 22: Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources This bill amends the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 to provide the necessary scientific information to properly implement annual catch limit, and for other purposes. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.uscongress/legislation.112hr2304

FEDERAL AGENCIES
National Ocean Council (NOC) Strategic Action Plans - Accepting Comments
As part of President Obamas commitment to move toward the first comprehensive national policy for our oceans, the NOC is responsible for developing strategic action plans (SAPs) to achieve nine priority objectives that address some of the most pressing challenges facing the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. To better help inform the SAP development, NOC previously solicited comments on each of the priority objectives. The NOC released nine draft SAP outlines based on each priority objective and the comments already received. The purpose of these SAPs is to provide an initial view as to how Federal agencies might address the priority objectives. The NOC is now accepting comments on these draft outlines: http:// www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/sap/comments.

National CMSP Workshop

The NOC hosted a national CMSP Workshop in Washington, D.C. June 21-23. The first day of the Workshop was a dedicated public and stakeholder session. The National Workshop, as called for in the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes, brought together Federal, state, tribal, and regional representatives to develop an understanding of the CMSP process, build a community of future CMSP practitioners, and consider next steps for regional implementation. The archived webcast of the CMSP Workshop is online at: http://www.livestream.com/interior.by watching the latest videos.

National Aquaculture Policies

Both the Department of Commerce (DOC) and NOAA released aquaculture policies to establish a framework to allow sustainable domestic aquaculture to contribute to the U.S. food supply, support coastal communities and important commercial and recreational fisheries, and help to restore species and habitat. NOAA sees aquaculture as a critical component to meeting increasing global demand for seafood and maintaining healthy ecosystems. Priorities in the NOAA policy include the following: making timely management decisions based on the best scientific information available; advancing sustainable aquaculture science; ensuring aquaculture decisions protect wild species and healthy coastal and ocean ecosystems; developing sustainable aquaculture in locations compatible with other uses; working with partners domestically and internationally; and promoting a level playing field for U.S. aquaculture businesses engaged in international trade. To view the policies and comments, visit: http://aquaculture.noaa.gov/us/aq_policies.html

NOAA Scientific Integrity Policy - Comment period open

NOAA has developed draft scientific integrity policy and an accompanying procedural handbook that would continue and enhance the culture of transparency, integrity, and ethical behavior. Comments will be accepted until August 15. http://www.noaa.gov/scientificintegrity/