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.
We were surprised to learn that the Commission currently has no guidelines or criteria to review prior to issuing a lease! We thought that was odd, considering that the Commission is responsible for issuing new commercial water-bottom leases for aquaculture in most parts of the state including Tomales Bay.
So we dug in and advocated for strong public interest criteria. We are thrilled to see the proposed language in black and white. Clear implementing guidelines and criteria will help the Commission make more transparent and informed decisions about whether to issue new leases, like the new lease application for Tomales Bay by San Andreas Shellfish.
The Commission is looking for feedback on the draft criteria prior to July 14th. You can help strengthen the criteria by sending in written comments or attending the meeting or upcoming public workshop on the topic on July 12th at 1PM PT (registration coming soon).
More info. and How to Get Involved
Review our June 30, 2022 written comments on the draft language
Department’s draft public interest criteria
July 12th webinar, 1PM PT (registration)
July 14, 2022 Marine Resources Committee meeting:
Agenda and how to participate in the meeting (see Agenda Item 4)
Written comments are due by July 11 at noon (see page 5)
EAC’s Healthy Tomales Bay page and coastal protection blog
Our February newsletter covered this topic.
2021 San Andreas Shellfish application for new lease in Tomales Bay
Aquaculture Matters website managed by the Department including background and public meeting information
