MPA Federal Advisory Committee - FAC Meeting Minutes

Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee Meeting
April 6-8, 2004
Key Largo, Florida

TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2004

The Committee Convened at 8:35 AM

Meeting Opening
Dr. Charles Wahle, Acting Designated Federal Officer, opened the meeting and turned the meeting over to Chair Dan Bromley. Dr. Bromley asked for a motion to approve the minutes for the November 2003 meeting. George Lapointe moved that the minutes be approved; Michael Cruikshank seconded the motion. Walter Pererya asked that the April minutes reflect the MPA FAC’s intention to endeavor to avoid conflicts with Fishery Management Council meetings in the future. Ted Thompson asked that his name in the minutes be changed from Captain Ted Thompson (Ret) to Mr. Ted Thompson. The minutes were adopted as amended.

Dr. Bromley welcomed Dr. John Halsey as a new member of the Committee, and recognized new and substituting ex officio members: Lisa Phelps (Navy), Jeff Pearson (Coast Guard), and Merlin Bartz (Agriculture).

As the parliamentarian, Dr. Dolly Garza, was unable to attend the meeting, Dr. Bromley announced that Max Peterson would serve as parliamentarian for this meeting. There was no objection.

Charges to Subcommittees
Dr. Bromley reviewed the charges to the three Subcommittees: (1) National System of MPAs; (2) Stewardship and Effectiveness of MPAs; and (3) National and Regional Coordination of MPA Efforts. He noted that an MPA FAC Executive Committee, made up of the Chair, Vice Chair, the Chairs of each Subcommittee, and Joseph Uravitch and Lauren Wenzel as ex officio members, had developed the “Focus Areas for Subcommittees” sent out before the meeting. Dr. Bromley reviewed the document, which outlined the issue areas for each of the Subcommittees. It was noted that some issues overlap across Subcommittees. Dr. Bromley asked each of the Subcommittees to consider these linkages and figure out when to meet jointly with other Subcommittees (or subgroups of Subcommittees) to address them.

Dr. Bromley noted that most of the work will be accomplished in the Subcommittees. He asked the Subcommittees to focus on two or three priority issues to bring back to the full MPA FAC for consideration. He also urged Subcommittees to look for ways to compromise on language so that Subcommittees could send forward issues on which they have largely achieved consensus. (Consensus was defined as general agreement, but not necessarily unanimity.) While it will be up to Subcommittees to set their own decision rules, they were urged to consider requiring a super-majority (e.g. 75%) to send recommendations forward to the MPA FAC. Dr. Bromley also asked that each Subcommittee establish an Executive Committee in order to share the leadership responsibilities with the Chair and Vice Chair.

The Committee discussed the format for the recommendations. The MPA Center agreed to provide feedback on format. Dr. Bromley suggested that all recommendations should be brief, clear, and include a justification and supporting materials.

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Social Science Regional Workshop – Pacific Islands
Lelei Peau asked that a brief report from Dr. Charles Wahle on the social science workshop held the previous week in Hawaii be added to the agenda. Dr. Wahle explained that the MPA Center has worked with scientists, practitioners and stakeholders to develop a social science research strategy to strengthen the use of social science in MPA planning, design, management and evaluation. The strategy focuses on six themes: use patterns; economics; attitudes, perceptions and beliefs; cultural heritage and resources; communities; and governance. The Center is now holding regional workshops to identify regional priorities for MPA social science research. Three have been held, including one last week in Hawaii for the Pacific Islands.

Terry O’Halloran noted that FAC participants at the Hawaii meeting developed a resolution that they would like to introduce. Dr. Bromley asked that this be held until later in the meeting, and Mr. O’Halloran agreed.

Ocean Commission
The Committee discussed the upcoming release of the preliminary report by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. Dr. Bromley asked that each Subcommittee look over the report as it relates to their issues. The MPA Center agreed to excerpt relevant sections of the report for the MPA FAC, but noted that the Council on Environmental Quality will be responsible for providing the formal Administration response to the report.

Presentation by Dr. Richard Spinrad
The Committee heard from Dr. Richard Spinrad, Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service (NOS). Dr. Spinrad gave the Committee an overview of recent activities and priorities within NOS. Several stakeholder roundtables have been held to engage with a diversity of constituencies. Internally, NOS has focused on integrating its diverse programs into a unified National Ocean Service. He also spoke about recent legislative activity related to the NOAA budget and ocean observations. Dr. Spinrad also discussed NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher’s commitment to strengthening NOAA’s ocean role. Providing input to the Administration’s response to the Ocean Commission report will be an important priority. The report will be issued on April 20, and there will be a 30-day period for public comment. The Commission will issue a final report sometime during the summer and the Administration will have 90 days to respond. The advisory role of the MPA FAC can be critical as these activities in the legislative and executive branch move forward.

Presentation by Joseph Uravitch
Joseph Uravitch updated the Committee on the recent activities of the MPA Center, and its responses to issues raised by the Committee at their November 2003 meeting. He also provided information on the role of the MPA Center in representing NOAA within the Commission on Environmental Cooperation to establish a North American network of MPAs.

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Subcommittees Met, 10:15-12:00

Full Committee Reconvened at 1:05
The Subcommittees reported out briefly on their morning discussions, then the Committee broke into Subcommittee meetings.

Subcommittees Met, 1:30-3:15

Full Committee Reconvened at 3:15

• Dan Clark, Cry of the Water
• Stephanie Clark, representing herself
• Dr. Cheri Recchia, Ocean Conservancy
• Nancy Klinginger, Ocean Conservancy (Florida Office)

Meeting adjourned for the day at 4:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 2004

Committee Convened 8:35 AM
Subcommittees gave provisional reports (see Thursday for Subcommittee reports). The Committee discussed how science should be used in management decisions. It was noted that management decisions need to be based on the best available science, but shouldn’t be postponed until science is “perfect.” The importance of social science, and of incorporating local environmental knowledge into decisionmaking was also noted. The Committee also discussed the importance of terminology, such as the term “public” as opposed to “stakeholder.”

Subcommittees Met, 10:15-11:15

Full Committee Reconvened, 11:15
The Committee heard from a panel on Inter-Agency Coordination of Marine Protected Areas in Southern Florida. Panelists included: Billy Causey, Superintendent, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; Kacky Andrews, Director, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas; Linda Canzanelli, Superintendent, Biscayne National Park; Eric Kiefer, Park Manager, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park; Bill Kruczynski, US Environmental Protection Agency, Program Manager, FKNMS, Water Quality Protection Program; and Bob Howard, Resource Manager, Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Park.

The Committee recessed at 12:05 PM for a field visit to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

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THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2004

Committee Reconvened, 8:05 AM

No public comments were offered. The Committee discussed dates for future meetings, and agreed to schedule meetings in September 2004, Feb/March 2005, and June 2005. The Committee agreed to deliver recommendations to NOAA and the Department of Interior by June 2005. Committee members were polled regarding their preferences for dates and locations, and meeting logistics were discussed. The Committee agreed on the following measures to improve logistics and public participation for future meetings: Provide an LCD and laptop in each room so that Subcommittees can project their work and make it visible to members of the public; provide language for Subcommittee documents (as a header) to note that they are draft and "pre-decisional;" and schedule any field trips after the FAC meeting. The Committee then broke into Subcommittees.

Subcommittees Met, 8:40-10:15 AM

Committee Reconvened, 10:15 AM

Terry O’Halloran offered the following motion: “that the MPA Federal Advisory committee acknowledge receipt of this [Pacific Islands Regional MPA social Science Workshop] resolution. Additionally, at such time that the recommendations from the workshop are finalized, that these recommendations be transmitted to the appropriate MPA Federal Advisory Committee Subcommittee(s) for their review, consideration and possible endorsement to the full Committee.”

Several members commented that they did not wish to endorse funding requests, but that they supported the intent of the motion. It was also agreed that recommendations should be transmitted to the full FAC, which can then determine whether to assign it to a Subcommittee or take other action. The motion was passed as follows: “that the MPA Federal Advisory Committee acknowledge receipt of this resolution. Additionally, at such time that the recommendations from the workshop are finalized, that these recommendations be transmitted to the MPA Federal Advisory Committee for consideration.”

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The Subcommitees reported out on their work.

Subcommittee 1 (National System of MPAs). Mark Hixon reported that the Subcommittee developed a 1-page vision and goals statement, together with a glossary for key words and concepts. The Subcommittee will recommend three broad categories of MPAs in the national system: natural heritage, cultural heritage, and sustainable production. The Subcomittee also worked on the definition of “lasting protection” of MPAs as part of a national system. Dr. Hixon reviewed the current thinking of the Subcommittee on lasting protection for the various categories of MPAs. In most cases this would be defined as lasting for a minimum of 10 years.

Dr. Hixon noted that Subcommittee 1 wished to meet before the next MPA FAC meeting to continue its work. Max Peterson moved that the Executive Committee, consulting with the Marine Protected Areas Center, look toward all three Subcommittees to meet if they wish to do so and if there is funding available, and make the final decision. The motion passed.

Subcommittee 2 (Stewardship and Effectiveness). Vice Chair Tony Chatwin reported that the Subcommittee is focusing on four areas as they relate to both individual MPAs and the national system: (1) constituency building, (2) planning, (3) compliance, and (4) monitoring, evaluation and adaptive management. The Subcommittee spent most of its time discussing constituency building and planning. Key topics included the need for constructive engagement in a planning process; impediments to public participation; incentives for public participation; and incentives for federal, state and local entities to be part of a national system. The Subcommittee will complete tasks by May 2, and have a conference call on May 7. Materials will be posted on the secure website shortly thereafter.

• Indigenous rights panel planning (for September FAC meeting)
• Cultural resources definition
• Analysis of Ocean Commission report
• Intergovernmental coordination to create a National System
• Intergovernmental coordination for successful MPAs – operational level

Dr. Bromley suggested that the panel on indigenous rights be expanded to address the broader spectrum of what culture is, because of its importance to all the Subcommittees. There was discussion about whether more than one panel discussion might be necessary to address this broad set of issues. Dr. Bromley moved that Bonnie McCay chair a subgroup consisting of herself, John Halsey, Dolly Garza, Mel Moon, Barbara Stevenson, and George Lapointe. The group would be responsible for advising the Executive Committee on planning one or more panel presentations for the FAC about culture, part of which would be indigenous issues. The motion passed.

Dr. Bromley asked all Subcommittees to post their work on the secure website by August 1 to allow for other FAC members to review by the September meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15.

I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the foregoing minutes are accurate and complete.

Charles Wahle
Acting Designated Federal Official

Dr. Daniel Bromley
Chairman
Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee

These minutes will be formally considered by the MPA FAC at its next meeting, and any corrections or notations will be incorporated in the minutes of that meeting.

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Committee members present:
Dr. Tundi Agardy*
Mr. Bob Bendick
Mr. David Benton*
Dr. Dan Bromley, Chairman
Dr. Anthony Chatwin
Dr. Michael Cruickshank
Dr. Rod Fujita
Dr. John Halsey
Dr. Mark Hixon
Mr. George Lapointe
Dr. Bonnie McCay, Vice-Chair
Mr. Mel Moon
Mr. Robert Moran
Dr. Steve Murray
Mr. Michael Nussman
Dr. John Ogden
Mr. Terry O’Halloran
Mr. Lelei Peau
Dr. Walter Pereyra
Mr. R. Max Peterson
Dr. Jim Ray
Ms. Barbara Stevenson
Dr. Daniel Suman
Mr. Ted Thompson

* Arrived Wednesday

Ex officio members present:
Mr. Merlin Bartz, Department of Agriculture
Ms. Mary Glackin, Department of Commerce
Mr. Jeff Pearson, Department of Homeland Security/Coast Guard
Ms. Lisa Phelps, Department of Defense/U.S. Navy
Ms. Jacqueline Schafer, U.S. Aid for International Development
Mr. Randal Bowman, Department of the Interior

National Marine Protected Areas Center staff:
Ms. Ginger Hinchcliff, Technical Assistance and Training Institute Director
Dr. Charles Wahle, Science Institute Director and Acting Designated Federal Officer
Mr. Joseph Uravitch, Director
Ms. Lauren Wenzel

Also present:
Dr. James Kendall, Executive Secretary of Department of the Interior’s Outer Continental Shelf Technical Advisory Committee

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