Surfrider Santa Cruz hosts informational meeting on the National Marine Sanctuary Program’s Joint Management Plan Review (JMPR)

By Kelly Vander Kaay

Tuesday, December 12, 2006, 7:00 pm
Simpkins Swim Center
979 17th Avenue (near 17th & Brommer)
ALL ARE WELCOME!

The National Marine Sanctuary Program (overseen by NOAA) has released a Draft Management Plan for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which addresses resource protection, education, research programs, and sanctuary boundaries, amongst other issues.  Surfrider Santa Cruz is holding a general meeting to inform its membership about the plan and to detail how the community can communicate its concerns regarding the proposed action plans contained there within.

The meeting will feature:

• Informational materials on the Joint Management Plan Review, including action plans on cruise ship discharge, the addition of the Davidson Seamount to the sanctuary, restrictions prohibiting the attraction of white sharks in the sanctuary, and a new definition of personal watercraft*.

• Information on where to direct written letters or on-line submissions regarding the proposed action plans (deadline January 5, 2007)

*While our chapter agrees that MPWC use in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary should be regulated to protect the biologically-diverse ecosystems in our backyard, we are undecided as to how this can best be accomplished until further research is conducted and until we receive additional input from our members on this issue.