Unfortunately, I was unable to make the SB meeting regarding the proposed Channel Islands closures. I did however write e-mails to several NOAA members outlining my opinions on the matter as a recreational fisherman. I just wanted to post for everyone's information a reply letter I received

Dear Eric,

Thanks very much for your comments. I will share your note with Sean
Hastings, the Sanctuary staff person that is coordinating the marine reserves
process. For future reference, his e-mail address is: sean.hastings@noaa.gov.

We appreciate the local knowledge you can bring to the discussions as a
recreational fisherman, and encourage you to stay involved. The
community-based Marine Reserves Working Group has been meeting for about a
year-and-a-half now, and they are proceeding carefully with respect to
designing any kind of reserve proposal. At the Sanctuary, we await this
community advice and plan to forward it to the California Fish and Game
Commission, the fishery management body that asked for this advice a few years
back. Alternatives to reserves, like those options you mentioned, will most
certainly be considered by the Commission, but the charge of the Marine
Reserves Working Group is to provide advice specifically on the possible
utility of marine reserves, integrated with existing and improved fishery
management approaches.

One of the primary goals for marine reserves that the Working Group agreed to
is: "To protect representative and unique marine habitats, ecological
processes, and populations of interest." To do this, scientists have advised
the Working Group that consideration of some areas as complete no-take zones
is necessary. If the only focus of the group was to improve fisheries
management, perhaps they might have agreed at some point (and perhaps they
still might) that recreational harvesters or specific species should be
exempted in certain situations. As the Group proceeds with their
deliberations, they are being very careful about considering the impacts to
all users of the islands, including recreational fishermen. No-one involved
wants to design a system that will put people out of business, or that can't
be managed effectively and produce benefits for all.

Your input is important, and I encourage you to stay involved with this
process and keep in touch with members of the Marine Reserves Working Group.
Their names are listed on this web site:
www.cinms.nos.noaa.gov/nmpreserves.html. The next meeting will be on April 18
in Santa Barbara (t112 W. Cabrillo Blvd.). It won't be a public forum like we
had on March 21, but it is open to the public to attend, observe, and talk
with members of the Group. An additional meeting is also scheduled for May
16. Keep up to date on meetings by checking this web site:
www.cinms.nos.noaa.gov/nmpreserves.html.

Regards,

Michael Murray
Advisory Council Coordinator
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
113 Harbor Way, Suite 150
Santa Barbara, CA 93109-2315
805/884-1464 (voice)
805/568-1582 (fax)
michael.murray@noaa.gov
www.cinms.nos.noaa.gov