As part of our healthy Tomales Bay campaign, we monitor our local aquaculture industry to make sure it’s sustainable and any new leases are located in areas that are not harmful to the environment. . We work to ensure that coastal resources, like eelgrass, species of special concern, endangered and native species, marine mammals, and shore and waterbirds are protected in Tomales Bay and beyond.
This month, the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) Marine Resources Committee will be reviewing new public interest criteria guidelines to use for their review of new aquaculture lease considerations. Essentially, this is a first-step checklist for the Commission to review when a new lease application is received that will help the Commission to make an informed decision whether that lease should be (or should not be) allowed to move forward based on the public’s best interest.
Coastal Act Preserved: CA Assembly Bill 303 Pulled!
We have good news to report! Through our efforts in coordinating a statewide aquaculture coalition of coastal groups, we successfully organized a strategy and succeeded in having the Assembly Natural Resources Committee’s January hearing for California Assembly Bill (AB) 303 (Aquaculture: mariculture production and restoration: pilot program) canceled at the request of the bill author.
Healthy Tomales Bay Campaign Update
Our Healthy Tomales Bay campaign seeks to ensure the sustainability of the competing uses in the Bay, where we monitor the sustainability of recreational and commercial fishing, and help to ensure aquacultural best practices to reduce or eliminate marine debris and avoid impacting sensitive eelgrass habitat vital to declining fish and bird species. This blog post summarizes our 2021 work on this campaign.
Healthy Tomales Bay: State Aquaculture Updates
It’s been a busy spring for aquaculture related items in the state. We are working to ensure local and state aquaculture development is sustainable. This is an important issue in coastal Marin, as much of the eastern shoreline of Tomales Bay includes aquaculture farms and requires monitoring and engagement.
We continue our work on the Healthy Tomales Bay campaign including a focus on making sure that local and statewide aquaculture is sustainable. In March, we testified at the Fish and Game Commission (FGC) Marine Resources Committee (MRC) meeting, where updates were provided on statewide aquaculture efforts including the development of an aquaculture action plan under the guidance of the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and statewide aquaculture principles.
Sustainable Aquaculture Updates!
Our work on local and state aquaculture continues, and we have been busy! Last week we organized a joint letter (with nine other NGOs) to the California Fish and Game Commission in advance of the Marine Resources Committee meeting regarding state aquaculture. The letter supports a continued hiatus on the acceptance of any new aquaculture leases as well voicing our collective support for the California Ocean Protection Council’s development of statewide coordinated aquaculture principles and a state aquaculture action plan. We plan to testify at the March 16 Marine Resources Committee meeting, which is open to the public.
CA Ocean Protection Council Moves Forward Key Projects
The California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) met in September on several interesting topics including the advancement of a statewide sea-level rise communications strategy, a statewide aquaculture action plan, updates to the California Eelgrass Mitigation Policy (CEMP), and plastic pollution. The OPC’s mission is to “ensure that California maintains healthy, resilient, and productive ocean and coastal ecosystems for the benefit of current and future generations.” Keep reading…
California Aquaculture Update focused on Tomales Bay
EAC continues our active engagement in local and state aquaculture issues with our focus on Tomales Bay. In the spring, we participated in two Fish and Game Commission Marine Resources Committee meetings, submitting written comments in advance. In May, we also submitted comments related to a 401 water quality certification application (required by the Clean Water Act) for Hog Island Oyster Company. In addition, we continue to actively monitor legislation including our opposition to problematic state bills, as well as participating in the Ocean Protection Council’s preparation of an aquaculture action plan.
California Coastal Commission's Coastal Development Permit Application Guidance
In July, the California Coastal Commission released a draft of its Coastal Development Permit (CDP) Application Guidance for aquaculture and marine restoration. This guidance is in response to Senate Bill 262, passed into law in October 2019. This bill added a new section to the Public Resources Code requiring the Commission to develop guidance for CDP applicants to help explain the process and enhance efficiency where possible. Comments will be accepted until August 31st, and the final document is expected by the end of the year.
Hog Island Coastal Development Project Approved
Hog Island Oyster Company (Hog Island) submitted a coastal development permit amendment application to the California Coastal Commission (Commission) for four coastal development permits. The application was approved unanimously by the Commission on February 8, 2019. The application included requests to expand shellfish aquaculture operations to 54 acres of state tidelands including the use of new equipment and additional species, approval for after-the-fact permits for cultivation development, and requests for the approval of installation and use of cultivation equipment within Hog Island’s current 25 acres of operations.
Aquaculture BMPs Move Forward
The aquaculture best management practices (BMPs) are moving forward. On October 25th, EAC represented the environmental interest along with a member of our Waters Advisory Committee, participating at an additional stakeholder meeting in Santa Rosa. Then on November 14th, Ashley Eagle-Gibbs, EAC’s Conservation Director, traveled to Sacramento with a member of our Waters Advisory Committee to continue to advocate for BMPs to the Fish and Game Commission’s Marine Resources Committee (MRC).
Marin Oyster Company CDP Update
Tomales Bay Aquaculture & MPA Updates
On March 6th 2018, EAC traveled to Santa Rosa to provide testimony before the Fish and Game Commission's Marine Resources Committee (MRC) on several topics including EAC's Marine Protected Area (MPA) Citizen Science Watch program, aquaculture Best Management Practices (BMPs), the proposed new aquaculture (Brodsky) lease, and future programmatic planning for the Bay.
