RESEARCH ACTIVITY PANEL
A WORKING GROUP OF THE 
MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL
299 Foam St
Monterey, California  93940 
					Phone          (831) 647-4257
					  Fax          (831) 647-4250
				  Internet       mbnms@igc.apc.org

	May 15, 1995

Research Advisory Panel

Dear Member:

	The minutes from the April 21, 1995, RAP meeting 
and the next meeting's agenda are enclosed with this
correspondence.  The next RAP meeting is being held on 
Friday, May 19, 1995, in the OVCR of the Monterey 
Bay Aquarium from 9 am to noon.

	If you have any questions, or wish to add topics to 
the agenda please contact Aaron King at the numbers 
listed above.


							Cheers,



							Dr. Gregor Cailliet 
							RAP Chair

RESEARCH ACTIVITY PANEL
A WORKING GROUP OF THE 
MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL
299 Foam St
Monterey, California  93940 
					Phone          (831) 647-4257
					  Fax          (831) 647-4250
				  Internet       mbnms@igc.apc.org

	May 15, 1995


MBNMS RAP Interested Parties:

	The minutes from the April 21, 1995, RAP meeting 
and the next meeting's a agenda are enclosed with this
correspondence.  The next RAP meeting is being held on 
Friday, May 19, 1995, in the OVCR of the Monterey 
Bay Aquarium from 9 am to noon..

	While you are not a member of the RAP, this 
information is being copied to you for informational 
purposes.  However, you are welcome to attend the 
upcoming meeting as an observer.  If you would like to 
attend, please call me at the numbers listed above.

	Finally, I would like to take a moment to discuss 
RAP communications with you.  There are three means by 
which I communicate and coordinate activities of the 
RAP: mail, fax and email.  Lately, the RAP has become 
extremely dependent upon email communications.  Every 
member of the RAP has email, and this process makes it 
very easy for me to coordinate their activities.  If 
some material contains graphics, or is too long for 
email, I may fax it to each of the RAP members (since 
they all have fax machines also).  Finally, if some 
correspondence is too long or inappropriate for faxing, 
I may mail it to the RAP membership.  The bottom line is 
that many of you do not have email or fax capabilities.  
If you don't, you cannot be assured of receiving all 
appropriate RAP correspondence.  If you want to be 
assured of receiving all this info, please arrange for 
email and fax service and I will be happy to add you to 
those lists.


						Sincerely,



						Mr. Aaron E. King 
						RAP Executive Coordinator

RESEARCH ACTIVITY PANEL
A WORKING GROUP OF THE 
MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY ADVISORY COUNCIL
299 Foam St
Monterey, California  93940 
					Phone          (831) 647-4257
					  Fax          (831) 647-4250
				  Internet       mbnms@igc.apc.org

RAP Meeting Agenda
Ocean View Conference Room
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey, CA

Friday, May 19, 1995, 0900 to 1200 hrs

	ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Introduction of Members and Participants

	a) Members Not Able to Attend:
	b) Meeting Member Substitutions:
	c) Guest Attendees:
List:  
	Greg Cailliet, MLML - RAP Chairman
	Laura Ehret, Naval Postgraduate School
	Steve Eittreim, USGS
	Chris Harrold, Monterey Bay Aquarium 
	Jim Harvey, Moss Landing Marine Labs
	Terry Jackson, Manager, Monterey Bay NMS
	Deborah Johnston, CA DFG/ Monterey
	Ken Parker, OAB
	Patricia Port, Department of the Interior 
	Don Potts, UCSC
	Gary Sharp, CIRIOS
	Rick Starr, Univ. of CA, Sea Grant Advisory Program
	Mark Stephenson, CDFG/Mar. Pollution Studies Lab
	George Boehlert, NOAA/NMFS/PFEG
	Andrew DeVogelaere, ESNERR and Foundation
	Dennis Powers, Hopkins Marine Station
	Bruce Robison, MBARI 
	Jan Roletto, GFNMS
	Jim Rote, NOAA/CSUMB
	Les Strnad, CA Coastal Commission 
	Karen Worcester, Morro Bay Foundatio

Approval of April 21, 1995, Meeting Minutes (Cailliet)

Report on the April SAC meeting (Cailliet)

Research Coordinator Status (Jackson)

MBNMS/GFNMS/CBNMS Marine Researchers Guide (King)

Permit Report (King) 

Electronic Communications Update (King)

Institutional Permit Status (King)

RAP Binder (King)

Next Monterey Bay Research Symposium (Parker/Starr)

RAP Membership Invitation to CSUMB (Cailliet)

RAP/MBNMS Review of Research Proposals
	In Review/Reviewed: USGS San Andreas Geodynamics
	New Requests: None

Scheduling July-Dec, 1994, Meetings/Sites (Cailliet)

Fort Ord Update (Cailliet/Jackson)

NURP Equipment Pool (Potts)

NOAA R/V McArthur (Jackson)

Sound and the MBNMS - Letter (Wickum/Starr)

NOAA Coastal Forecast System - Judith Gray Meeting (Rote)

	BREAK

	DISCUSSION ITEMS

MBNMS Research Budget (Ehret) - Discussion of MBA 
Weather/Oceanographic Station Partial Funding through 
MBNMS Research Budget

Regulatory "Short-Term Impact/Negligable Effect Clause" / 
ATOC Update / Communications with NOAA (Jackson/Cailliet) 

Diving Reciprocity (Potts)

	OTHER ITEMS
Other Old Business - Open
New Business - Open
Items for future meetings - Monterey Academy of 
Oceanography, ????

	ADJOURN


RESEARCH ACTIVITY PANEL
A Working Group of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary 
Advisory Council
299 Foam Street
Monterey, CA  93940
			
			Phone:	(831) 647-4257
			Fax:		(831) 647-4250
			Internet	mbnms@igc.apc.org

SPECIAL NOTE: Due to time constraints , these minutes have not yet been 
reviewed by the RAP Chair, as has been done for past meetings.

Research Activity Panel Draft Meeting Minutes
Ocean View Conference Room at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Friday, May 19, 1995
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Meeting arrangements made by:
Aaron King, Monterey Bay NMS - RAP Executive Coordinator

Members in attendance were:

Greg Cailliet, RAP Chair, Moss Landing Marine Labs
Laura Ehret, Naval Postgraduate School
Jim Harvey, Moss Landing Marine Labs
Terry Jackson, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Ken Parker, NOAA Ocean Applications Branch
Rick Starr, University of California, Sea Grant
Andrew DeVogelaere, ESNERR and Foundation
Jim Rote, California State University Monterey Bay/NOAA
Chris Harrold, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Steve Webster, Monterey Bay Aquarium
Deborah Johnston, CA DFG/Monterey
George Boehlert, NOAA/NMFS/PFEG
Dennis Powers, Hopkins Marine Station
Gary Ichikawa, CA DFG/Monterey

Special Guests in attendance included:

Heidi Dewar, MBARI
Jack Wickham, Conservation Working Group 
Roger Phillips, Monterey Bay Aquarium

Research Activity Panel members not in attendance:

Patricia Port, Department of the Interior
Jan Roletto, GFNMS
Karen Worcester, Morro Bay Foundation
Steve Eittreim, USGS
Don Potts, UCSC
Gary Sharp, CIRIOS
Bruce Robinson, MBARI
Les Strnad, CA Coastal Commission

I.	CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 9:10 a.m.

II.	APPROVAL OF APRIL 21, 1995 MEETING MINUTES

The minutes were approved as presented.

III.	ANNOUNCEMENTS

A delegation from the State Oceanic Administration of the People's Republic of 
China visited the RAP meeting.  The purpose of their visit to Monterey was to 
learn about U.S. management of the large marine eco-system and environment, 
and to try to implement similar measures for the marine eco-system in China. 

The delegation wanted to meet the experts and specialists here to study the 
following:

	activities and implementation plan for the program;
	regulations and management techniques - specifically, standards criteria and 
legislation;
	multiple use and maintenance of the Sanctuary;
	to form ties and exchange ideas and experiences on Sanctuary management;
	to maximize marine resources through cooperation between the U.S. and 
China.

RAP members and the delegation shared information and questions.  Greg gave 
them several pages of material describing the role and activities of the RAP in 
relation to the Sanctuary.

 A copy of the brochure on the State Oceanic Administration of China is available 
to Panel members upon request. 

IV.	QUICK DISCUSSION ITEMS

1) Report on the April 24  Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting 
(Cailliet)--

* The Draft Annual Report from the Council to the Sanctuary was presented with 
the following comments from Advisory Council members:

	request for working group input - a list of activity highlights from the 
working groups over the past year should be added to the report (the RAP 
report is available to members upon request);
	add more emphasis to the uniqueness of the SAC and its importance to the 
community and to the Sanctuary;
	request that the hours spent by Advisory Council and working group members 
be calculated for reference in the future;

* Elections for officers took place -- Steve Webster was re-elected as the 
Council's Vice-Chair and Steve Abbott was elected as the new Secretary; 

* Pat Cotter from the MBNMS office gave an update on the flood impacts to the 
Sanctuary -- the main point being that the Sanctuary is in fairly good shape 
regarding levels of toxic waste.  However, the needed funds to do adequate 
research on the floods are lacking.

Council members suggested that watershed management and the flood be part of 
the Research Symposium;

* Two new task forces were created -- alternative funding and economic 
development; 

* Brian Baird of the CA Resources Agency reported that negotiations and efforts to 
alleviate the problems associated with the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal 
harassment are underway; 

* Mark Stephenson, Director of the California Mussel Watch Program, gave a 
short presentation about the Program.  The Council decided on the following 
action:

	to write a letter in support of the Program to California Senator Henry Mello 
and Assemblyman Bruce McPherson; 
	request that the RAP work with the WQPP to endorse and support the program 
in a formal way;

* Announcement of the Council Retreat on June 2 -- there will not be a business 
meeting for May;

* The Sanctuary Manager gave a brief update on Sanctuary activities;
 
* Discussion of the tourism representative selection process - Council members 
outlined specific criteria to be considered for the position;

* Terry, Ed Ueber, and Karin Strasser Kauffman reported on their trip to the 
Managers Conference in Washington, DC; and,

* Working group Chairs reported on their recent activities.

2) Research Coordinator Status (King)-- The Sanctuary office is still 
accepting applications for the position of Research Coordinator.  The contract is 
for one year only due to budget uncertainties for the future of the Program.  
WASC will put together a bid package to be sent to all applicants and then provide 
a list of acceptable candidates to Terry.

RAP members can participate in the selection process.  Terry Jackson will 
review the applications and submit a list of his recommendations to RAP 
members for their input and comments before a final selection is made.

3) MBNMS/GFNMS -Researchers Guide (King)-- The document is close 
to completion. The information will be on the MBNMS web page.  Contact Aaron 
King at 647-4257 for more information. 

4) Permit report (King)-- The permit report was presented without 
comment.  If you have questions or comments please contact Scott Kathey at 
MBNMS, 647-4251.

5) Electronic Communications (King)-- The Sanctuary's internet 
connection is up and running.  The web-page is now assessable.  The partial 
address is: sapphire.cse.ucsc.edu/mb/nms.  The system allows/will allow 
hypertext links; bulletin boards; and, wide area information servers for 
research databases such as the site characterization database and bibliographic 
information.

6) Institutional Permit Status (Jackson)-- Scott Kathey attended a 
conference in Washington, DC on Institutional Permits.  A document is currently 
being produced on Institutional Permits and will be submitted to the RAP for 
comments when available.

7) RAP Binder (King)-- a binder similar in nature to the SAC Handbook has 
been produced for the RAP.  It contains a record of all meeting minutes, 
correspondence, resolutions, a list of current members, and a synopsis of the 
organization.  Although parts of the document will be available electronically, the 
purpose of the binder is to provide a source of institutional memory for the 
group.

8) Research Symposium (Starr/Parker)-- there will be a meeting with 
AMBAG on Monday, May 22 to coordinate the symposium with the Anniversary 
celebration.  The RAP directed Rick Starr to speak with Mark Silberstein about 
nominating Roy Gordon as the Keynote Speaker for the event.

The John H. Martin "Iron-Man Award" of excellence is also to be awarded at the 
symposium, please send your nominations in writing to Dennis Powers. 

9) Review of Research Proposals (King)--There were no new research 
proposals to consider.  

Discussion concerning the complexities of what constitutes legitimate research 
was postponed for a later meeting.  The Panel also discussed its role in the permit 
review process, finally deciding that their endorsement will be on a case-by-
case basis.  

10) MBNMS Research Budget-MBA Weather/ Oceanographic Station 
(Starr) -- Chris Harrold left the room when discussion started so that there 
wouldn't be a conflict of interest.  

After some discussion, the RAP decided to fund the MBA Weather/ Oceanographic 
Station, concluding that any long term data collection is useful. 

RAP members requested that the criteria for next year be very clear and decided 
upon in advance.

NOTE:  The Sanctuary office has moved quickly in allocating the research funds 
and has already purchased the CD writer for the site characterization project.

11) Meeting Schedule for July through December (Cailliet)-- a 
brief review of the year's meeting schedule.  As Greg won't be able to attend the 
June 16 meeting, he asked Rick Starr to stand in for him. 

12) Fort Ord update (Cailliet)-- the EPA has played an instrumental role 
in getting a response from the Army.  The RAP will propose that the Army 
implement certain kinds of research, beginning with a swath-mapping ship to do 
a very detailed mapping of the entire area.  

13) R/V McArthur (Jackson)-- this year's cruises went very well and 
Terry will request more time for next year.  Terry needs feedback from the panel 
on what projects should be considered for the coming year so that an appropriate 
amount of ship time can be reserved.
  
A report of the projects conducted this year will be circulated once the cruise is 
completed.

The panel requested that a discussion of future projects and 
research time on the vessel be placed on the next meeting agenda.

It was reported that funding for the Pt. Sur and other research ships looks bleak.  
The local research community should consider using the local fleet for research 
projects in order to keep the local fleet up and running and supported.  

14) NOAA Rescission by House/Senate (Cailliet)-- funding programs 
that affect the RAP include:

(NOTE: the proposed cuts listed below have since been vetoed.)

	GLOBE -- No cuts;
	Global and Climate Change -- cut $14 million;
	NURP -- cut $ 3.5 million;
	Coastal Ocean Program -- cut $3 million.
 
Greg suggested that Panel members do their best to inform each other and the 
Sanctuary office about information that may be useful to the group.

NOTE: Rick Starr mentioned that the SEA GRANT program could be cut as it is up  
for reauthorization this year.  

15) Status of the MBNMS "Foundation" or Cooperative Association 
(Jackson)-- there is a contract with the Center for Marine Conservation to 
establish a cooperative agreement as NOAA cannot use government funds for this 
purpose. CMC is attempting to obtain the funds pro-bono.  It will probably be 
another three to four months before there will be any results.

16) NOAA coastal forecast system (Rote)-- the intent of the project is to 
spend 3/4 of a million and to come to the west coast which they haven't done in 
the past.  The recision would probably affect the project.  Judith Grey can 
provide copies of brochures on the program.  Please contact Jim Rote at 647-
4256 for more information.

V.	DISCUSSION ITEMS

1) SOS - Sanctuary Steward Program (Aldridge)--Mahlon Aldridge, 
Sanctuary Steward Coordinator for Save Our Shores, provided an overview of the 
program, the purpose of which is to train a select group of 25  volunteers to 
educate, inspire, and involve the public in the policy making and protection of the 
Sanctuary.  The Stewards are not to be "eco-cops", but advocates for information.  
They will present slide shows to local groups and schools, educate guides on how 
to clean-up and protect an area, and volunteer to handle the "hot-line", 
channeling information to the proper authorities.

RAP members expressed reservations about the advocacy aspect of the program, 
cautioning that SOS should train the steward's about who they are representing 
and who's opinion is being advocated.  RAP members voiced concern over the 
promotion of opinions that may differ from that of the Sanctuary and other 
groups in the area.  Panel members asked SOS to consider teaching their stewards 
to leave their own agendas behind and to only teach what the issues are and not 
give positions and opinions. 

The RAP recommended that SOS involve NOAA more closely with the program.

Mahlon indicated that SOS is open to suggestions from the panel and requested that 
the Panel provide speakers for some of the training sessions.  They need someone 
to give the presentation on research institutes in the area.

2) Sound and the MBNMS: Letter and SAC Proposals (Wickham)-- 
Jack Wickham, a member of the Conservation Working Group, presented a draft 
letter addressing the need for research on the impacts of noise pollution in the 
Sanctuary.  Jack is hoping to gain the support of all three working groups before 
presenting the issue to the SAC.  Will the RAP endorse this letter to the SAC?  The 
Conservation Working Group and the Sanctuary Education Panel have already 
voted to endorse the letter.

The Panel made the following suggestions to the letter:

	specify in writing that the research about sound be conducted in the 
Sanctuary; 
	replace the word "pollution" with "levels," and the word  "problems" with 
"situation" in appropriate places throughout the document; 
	reorder the bullet points  -- #1 should be #3 and #3 should be #1;
	change the word "control"  as it is a red flag to many individuals.

The RAP requested that the chairs of the working groups meet and draft a letter to 
the Council that includes the needs of all the groups.  Laura Ehret volunteered to 
meet with the other two working groups to re-draft the document to be presented 
to the SAC.

3) NRC Marine Biodiversity Report (Boehlert)-- George Boehlert 
introduced a new book addressing the human threat to biodiversity.   The 
publication of the book should lead to more research if the funds are available.  
For more information, please contact George Boehlert at the Pacific Fisheries 
Environmental Group - NMFS, 648-8447.

4) Communications with little and big NOAA (Jackson)-- basically 
means Sanctuary communication with NOAA in Washington, DC.  The Sanctuaries 
and Reserves Division is considering a transfer of funds -- 75k -- to the 
MBNMS/GFNMS/CBNMS to implement marine mammal research in the 
Sanctuaries.  A request for proposals will be prepared.  

5) Regulatory "Short-term Impact/Negligible Effect Clause" 
(Jackson)-- a NOAA requirement for a permit only if it will have negligible 
effect on the surrounding environment.  However, "negligible effect " in the 
Sanctuary has not yet been defined.

6) ATOC FEIS (Cailliet)-- the ATOC FEIS is available and in the Sanctuary 
office.  Greg observed that the FEIS does not emphasize letters of support.  
Rather, the report categorizes the correspondence by issues or problems and 
references them as a group.  It is important for the RAP to be aware of this 
process in order to function more effectively in future situations.

VI.	NEW BUSINESS

1) The Alaska Fisheries Science Center will be conducting a bottom trawl survey 
of groundfish resources off of the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, and 
Vancouver Island.  They are encouraging multi-agency participation in the 
survey.  Expenses for travel, room, and board will be covered for all non-
government employees.  Interested persons should contact Ken Weinberg at 
(206) 526-6109, or Mark Wilkins at (206) 526-4104.

2) The Vessel Traffic Safety report will be added to the June agenda.

3) Geoff Wheat of the University of Hawaii should be invited to speak to the Panel 
at the June meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.


Respectfully Submitted,


Jane M. DeLay
SAC Coordinator