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 at the local and state level.
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.
At the meeting, we voiced our support for a continued hiatus on new aquaculture leases until aquaculture principles are developed, as well as our support for a coordinated statewide approach.
“We must have a coordinated and logical approach to the acceptance of any new leases, as we are dealing with very sensitive habitat areas that have already suffered significant losses and continue to be threatened by climate change. For instance, the recent shorebird decline in Tomales Bay.”
The aquaculture principles (which are meant for internal agency purposes primarily) will be released in advance of the June 15 OPC meeting as part of the Executive Director’s report.
While the staff agreed with the need for a coordinated approach, the MRC recommended that the hiatus be lifted, largely due to their legislative mandate to consider and manage aquaculture leases in the state. At the MRC meeting, the Commissioners also voiced their support for a review of the public interest criteria that are considered when the Commission reviews a new lease.
The hiatus on new aquaculture leases expired at the FGC’s April meeting. We also spoke at the April meeting, voicing our support for the MRC’s recommendation to initiate a process to develop criteria for the FGC’s “public interest finding” for new lease applications. We also requested an update on the pending lease applications including San Andreas Shellfish proposed in Tomales Bay.
The June agenda lists as an information item: “update on marine aquaculture state water bottom leases and projects under review.”
This spring, we also successfully advocated against a problematic proposed state legislature bill (AB 303 ). This bill was to exempt the California Coastal Commission from the regulation of a very large proposed aquaculture pilot project area in the state. The California Coastal Commission, charged with enforcing the California Coastal Act, has proven to be a very logical and strong regulator of the aquaculture industry.
EAC’s Conservation Director served as a key witness in opposition to the bill at the April committee hearing:
“Adequate and individualized environmental review is not possible in 4 months or 2 months for state government subleases, which have very limited oversight. In light of the fact that California’s estuaries and coastal waters are already facing ocean acidification, biodiversity losses, sea level rise, and other threats, direct and cumulative impacts of any development must be closely considered….”
It is also important to consider aquaculture siting alongside the siting of other types of development including offshore wind for example. Our coastlines have many competing and increasing interests.
AB 303 has been amended (including a reduction to the pilot areas) and delayed until 2022, allowing additional time for discussions.
EAC will remain engaged, alongside our NGO partners, on marine aquaculture policy and its impacts on Tomales Bay including meeting with agency staff, participating in FGC and OPC meetings, and reviewing key legislation.
LEARN MORE:
AB 303, Aquaculture: mariculture production and restoration: pilot program (2021-2022)
AB 303 Group Opposition Letter (March 26, 2021)
Fish and Game Code Code Section 15404(a) (re. public interest determination)
Learn more about EAC’s coastal protection work
February 10, 2021 Nils Warnock, et al., Declining wintering shorebird populations at a
temperate estuary in California: A 30-year perspective, Vol. 123, American Ornithological Society
