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.

EAC Supports the Next Generation of Environmental Advocates

Every summer, we host incredible teams of students seeking to gain experience in environmental policy, law, advocacy, and education. During the pandemic, our internship program expanded, and we pivoted to host remote internships throughout the entire year.

We believe that providing these opportunities create lasting and meaningful impressions that help to foster the environmental stewards of the future.

This semester, we are fortunate to have hosted another excellent team of interns and wanted to share the experience of Ariel Orr, legal and policy intern, who had the opportunity to represent EAC before the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and at Ocean Climate Day.

30% by 2030: Protecting Our Land and Water

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.

Sustainable Aquaculture Updates! 

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.

Fish & Game Commission Hears Annual Update on Marine Protected Areas

On December 9th, the California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) received their annual update on the state of California’s marine protected areas (MPAs). Following the update and presentation provided by the Fish and Wildlife Department, there was a strong turnout in support of the state MPA program. Several coastal organizations and stakeholders from up and down the state provided updates on individual programs and challenges from 2020, including increased poaching, visitation, and enforcement.

EAC’s Conservation Director provided an update on our local Marin MPA Watch program which collects data at six MPAs in Marin County in partnership with Point Reyes National Seashore and California Academy of Sciences, as well as an update around our concerns related to increased activity and visitation at Duxbury Reef.

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.

Tomales Bay Oyster Company Coastal Development Permit Amendment Approved by Coastal Commission

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.

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).

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. 

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