02/05/2008: "Marine Resources Committee Sets Goals for 2008"

The San Juan County Council has approved an ambitious Marine Resources Committee Work Plan for 2008, which works toward implementing the strategies for the Marine Stewardship Area. Established by the County in 2004, the Stewardship Area identifies special management areas throughout the county that allow sustainable use of marine resources while protecting and restoring sensitive marine species and habitats.

Highlights of the 2008 Work Plan include outreach efforts to help foster a stewardship ethic in residents and visitors, maintaining and improving research and monitoring efforts in the Marine Stewardship Area (MSA), developing an aquatic reserve proposal, and providing extensive assistance to the County to develop programs and policies that support the MSA strategies.

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Mary Knackstedt, Marine Resources Committee (MRC) Coordinator, says that she’s excited that the plan includes extensive collaboration with many local and regional organizations. “We’re collaborating with groups from the Puget Sound Partnership to small groups of citizens here in the islands, all working toward the common goal of restoring and maintaining a healthy San Juan Islands marine ecosystem.”

A few highlights from the work plan:

• As a way to further a stewardship ethic, an ethic that humans are caretakers of the natural world, establishment of a Stewardship Network. The plan includes the development of a guide to the work of the many stewardship groups, organizations and agencies here. The network group is already in the process of planning for a Conservation Conference, a public event in April where collaborative efforts will be highlighted and individuals will be honored for their stewardship efforts.
• Establishment of the EnviroStars program, already a success in King County. The program certifies businesses for their efforts to prevent pollution and properly manage hazardous waste.
• As the County works to update its Critical Areas Ordinances, provision of scientific input into the process for the fish and wildlife habitat element of the update.
• Sponsorship of a regional Marine Managers Workshop in early May to assist in implementing MSA strategies and developing a long term monitoring plan.
• Development, with both local citizens and a marine managers technical group, of an Aquatic Reserve Proposal for submittal to WDNR Aquatic Reserve Program.
• To support bottomfish recovery efforts, continuation of public outreach about the voluntary recovery zones and work on a proposal for improved management of fisheries that harvest rockfish for presentation to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
• Cooperation with the Lead Entity for Salmon Recovery to maintain and implement the local salmon recovery plan.

”The MRC greatly appreciates the support we receive from the County Council,” said Kit Rawson, committee chair. “San Juan County continues to lead the region in protecting the marine environment. The success of our work depends on the many partner organizations and individual citizens who will be participating with us in each of the projects in our 2008 work plan.”
For additional information contact: Mary Knackstedt, Marine Resources Committee Coordinator 360-378-