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- Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary
- Sanctuary Advisory Council Meeting
- November 9, 2000
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Coastal Resources Division
- Brunswick, Georgia
Attendance:
SAC members present: Henry Ansley, George Sedberry, Judy Wright, Dave Cinalli, Jim Henry, Joe Kimmel, Bing Phillips, Doug Rader.
Guests in attendance: Susan Shipman, Claudia Ribeiro. Duane Harris
SAC members not present: Matt Gilligan, Patty McIntosh, Anne Lindsay Frick.
Gray's Reef NMS staff and other NOS personnel present: Reed Bohne, Cathy Sakas, Alex Score, Marcy Lee, Becky Shortland, Tom Culliton, Tim Goodspeed, Rod Ehler, Michael Murphy.
Distributed Materials:
- Revised SAC Charter
- Draft SAC Handbook
- National Marine Sanctuary Act new
- Draft GRNMS Goals and Objectives
- Proposed Management Plan Workshop Outline
- Sanctuary Habitat Conservation Paper
- Draft Strategy Template
- Strategy Development Workshop Process Chart
- South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Marine Reserves Committee Meeting Overview
- NOAA/NCCOS Annual Report "Support of monitoring activities and site characterization at GRNMS"
- Status of NOAA Activities on Marine Protected Areas
Jim Henry called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. Becky Shortland noted that the minutes from the SAC retreat were not yet ready for approval. She will submit the 9/19-20/00 SAC retreat minutes in the near future for approval.
Reed gave an overview of the published "State of the Sanctuary" report and an overview of todayís agenda.
Jim called for the selection and election of Vice Chair and Secretary. He stated that Patty McIntosh would be willing to continue to serve as the Council Secretary, and Matt Gilligan would be willing to continue to serve as Council Vice Chair. Doug Rader called for acclamation of the slate, Bing Phillips seconded and Jim Henry called for any comments. None-given, Jim called for a vote. The slate passed unanimously.
Noted that the materials package includes the final SAC Charter amendment and a copy of the draft national SAC handbook for review. She noted the upcoming SAC Chair and coordinators workshop on the west coast at the end of January, and asked that everyone consider goals of the workshop and give Jim Henry some feedback and ideas.
Reed Bohne noted the copy of the new National Marine Sanctuary Act with strike-through language. Michael Murphy confirmed that the President had not signed the Act yet, but that signing was expected. Reed asked that everyone look through the Act and changes. Michael added that it is ultimately good news for GR since no new sanctuaries can be created until all are fully funded and staffed. Reed said as far as marketing and fund generating are concerned we can now "sell" our logo especially the whale tail logo. Michael discussed revenue enhancement for Sanctuaries. He said we could have a GR calendar with the whale tail logo. Proceeds can go to the sites.
Becky noted that the draft/revised Goals & Objectives were sent thru email for the SAC to review. The group proceeded to review the statements and suggested incorporations of the new nationals goals and purposes.
Tim Goodspeed noted the similarities and differences in GRNMS goals and the national goals. Discussion ensued among SAC members regarding wording of the GRNMS goal statements (see final Goals & Objectives).
Becky discussed the genesis of issues for workshops. Reed reviewed the workshop design. Tom Culliton emphasized that the location/facility for holding the workshops will be very important. Meanwhile the SAC was passing around the participant list for additions to the list. The logistics of the workshop were also discussed. Tim discussed workshop process. A package, which will include a one-page introduction, list of participants, issues, and State of Sanctuary report will be sent out a week before the workshop.
Tim Goodspeed opened the discussion of the "Sanctuary Habitat Conservation" paper. SAC recommended changing "Issue Description" to "Background". It was also mentioned that a description of the value of sandy bottoms needed to be added. It was suggested that water quality be addressed in regards to air/water interface, marine pollution both local (marine vessels) and distant (atmospheric and coastal), noise pollution and containment, and physical/biological/chemical impacts.
The group broke for lunch.
After lunch, outcome statements for the Habitat Workshop were discussed. Methods of measuring outcomes should be measurable over time. An example would be a performance evaluation on the prohibition of anchoring. The marine debris, diver impacts and anchoring outcome statements were developed.
The next topic of discussion was on the date, time, and location of the first workshop. It was decided that it should take place on Dec. 19th from 9-4 at the Coastal Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Savannah. Tim Goodspeed reviewed the "Draft Management Plan Strategy Template." The proposed next workshop, possibly the third week in January, will focus on Sanctuary Species Conservation.
Reed brought the SAC up to date on South Atlantic Fishery Management Council activities including the Marine Reserves Committee Meeting Overview. He explained that GR discussions on the controversial topic of marine reserves could be addressed more effectively through a broader regional context with the SAFMC. SAFMC is currently considering the use of marine reserves as a fishery management tool.
The Memorandum of Understanding with SAFMC and NOAAís National Marine Fishery Service is still underway. We hope to have it approved at the upcoming SAFMC meeting in North Carolina.
It was suggested that the next meeting of the SAC be held at the Grayís Reef Office in Savannah on January 23, 2001.
Reed introduced Rod Ehler who is the new economist on staff with the National Marine Sanctuary System in Silver Spring. Rod has been meeting with a variety of people this trip to begin work on a socioeconomic profile. Rod will be doing a gap analysis in the next few months in coastal Georgia counties. The second half of his work will concentrate on filling gaps found in the previous study.
Michael Murphy, who is responsible for constituent affairs and also based in Silver Spring, Maryland, discussed the Marine Protected Areas initiative under President Clintonís Executive order.
Jim Henry closed the meeting at approximately 4:00p.m.