We prepared and submitted two petitions to the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) on November 30th to request changes in Marine Protected Area (MPA) regulations at two highly vulnerable locations in Marin County: Drakes Estero and Duxbury Reef. We also supplemented our comments on February 1st with additional community support and information. This follows the decadal management review and the need to adaptively manage our MPAs.

Following up on our involvement in the first decadal management review for California’s network of 124 marine protected areas (MPAs), we prepared and submitted two petitions in November to the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) to request changes in MPA regulations at two locations in Marin County: Drakes Estero and Duxbury Reef. Initially, we submitted comments in March of 2023 and subsequent comments, requesting the Commission review changes to the current regulations based on changed circumstances and to ensure MPA resilience and adaptive management. We followed up with formal petitions in November, including submitting extensive agency, partner, and local support, as well as other relevant information. 

The aquaculture public interest criteria (or guidance) were finalized at the August Fish and Game Commission (Commission) meeting. The criteria outline a series of inquiries and clarify the process for prospective aquaculture proposals (including shellfish growing in Tomales Bay and California waters). These unanimously adopted criteria will apply statewide with broad support at the meeting. Alongside the criteria, an enhanced application review process was also adopted. 

We have been leading the NGO effort to increase transparency and develop and refine these aquaculture criteria for the last couple of years. Thank you to our partners for their support in getting this across the finish line! The successful adoption of these criteria results from extensive public comments (written and presented), as well as coordination with staff, Commissioners, and NGO partners.

The 8th annual State of Tomales Bay conference took place at the end of September at the Inverness Yacht Club. The day was thoughtfully curated and facilitated by the Tomales Bay Foundation Board, bringing together regional partners, including non-profit and business stakeholders, scientific practitioners, local, state and federal land managers, as well as elected leaders who actively collaborated to address the topic of the day: Conservation Challenges with a Changing Climate. Three members of the EAC team, as well as Board members, joined the important event. 

The interdisciplinary nature of the conference presentations gave each attendee access to information that educated about the importance of prescribed fires, Tomales Bay aquatic biology, hydrology, birds and butterflies, as well as introduced participants to Marin County’s coordinated response to sea level rise, student research focused on biodiversity, benthic habitat, biological invasions, restoration success stories, and predation on marine mammals.

Our advocacy to protect Tomales Bay’s unique habitats and species from poorly sited development continues, as we push the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) to create statewide aquaculture public interest criteria, which will be implemented prior to the issuance of new aquaculture leases. 

We need your help to ensure the FGC understands this issue is important to our membership.  Please Complete this Google Form by adding your name and feedback, so we can emphasize the importance of this issue at the FGC Marine Resources Meeting on July 20th. We also encourage you to send in your own written comments separately by July 7th at 5 PM. See more info. below re. submitting individual comments.

It’s been 10 years since California’s network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) were established. California’s ambitious plan to establish an interconnected network of 124 MPAs along the coast is an international example of adaptive conservation and management, and we are proud to have been part of the process from the very beginning stages of community meetings. Here in Marin County, we are fortunate to have six MPAs, two State Marine Parks, and three Special Closures at some of our favorite coastal areas like Drakes Estero, Drakes Beach, and Duxbury Reef.

In 1999, California passed the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) requiring the state to create an interconnected ecological network of 124 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect and sustain the diverse marine life and coastal and ocean habitats through adaptive ecological management strategies. A key part of the adaptive management plan included the development of four-pillars that would guide the implementation of the MLPA to ensure the MPA network was meeting its goals.

At the end of the year, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) released the first ever review of the MPA network in their report, California Marine Protected Area Decadal Management Review. The report reviews the last 10-years of research and monitoring; outreach and education; policy and permitting; and enforcement and compliance activities. It also provides the public with information and recommendations for the future to address knowledge gaps and changing environmental and socioeconomic conditions.  

On March 9th, EAC participated in the 16th annual California Ocean Day, where our team joined with advocates from across the state to celebrate our marine environment. In addition to meeting with our representatives Assemblymember Marc Levine and State Senator Mike McGuire, EAC also attended a panel discussion regarding the “30x30” initiative with Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot, Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez, and other leaders in the field.

Charles Friend Oyster Company ( CFOC / Tomales Bay Oyster) submitted a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) amendment application to the California Coastal Commission (Commission) for an after-the-fact development. The CDP amendment was approved unanimously by the Commission on the consent calendar on August 8, 2019 as there were not any objections by the applicant or the public. EAC is generally supportive of the CDP amendment and continues to raise concerns on the prevalence of after-the-fact permit amendments that may set a standard for operators to install and remove unpermitted cultivation without obtaining permits and many times in sensitive habitat areas like eelgrass. The updated Special Conditions will assist to prevent future impacts to sensitive habitats.

EAC will continue to monitor CDP applications working to ensure protection of sensitive habitats like eelgrass and supporting efforts to mark gear to reduce issues with lost aquaculture debris in Tomales Bay.

EAC needs your help to submit comments to oppose Assembly Bill 2754. This legislation is intended to amend the 1976 Coastal Act by redefining the definition of "development" to exclude "ongoing agricultural" activities.