Research Working Group

Time Frame: Current
The Research Working Group (RWG) is a broad group of advisors who have specific scientific expertise. This group, separate from the SAC, does not hold meetings and will communicate chiefly by email and telephone conferencing on specific needs, i.e. scientific advice on technical topics. In the future a RWG email list will be maintained and interested individuals can ask to be placed on the list in order to follow topics being discussed by this group.

Marine Conservation Working Group

Time Frame: April 2000 through October 2003
Purpose: To evaluate marine zoning as a management tool, to make specific recommendations on the status and effectiveness of existing zoning for intertidal areas, and to develop an intertidal zoning strategy.
Methods/Study Area: The Working Group considered management of the federally owned intertidal shore adjacent to the sanctuary where OCNMS and Olympic National Park share jurisdiction. The group did not develop zoning recommendations for tribal reservation shores. Representatives from 14 groups, including tribal, federal, state and county governments, and the commercial fishing, conservation and scientific communities, were invited to participate in the working group. Deliberations included 1) review of marine zoning and protected areas science and practice at other sites, 2) summary of existing ownership, jurisdiction, and zoning, 3) draft a vision statement and goals, 4) review the ecology of the outer coast, including oceanography, intertidal habitat, and organism distribution, 5) identify sites of extraordinary ecological significance and highest priority for conservation, 6) summarize current and potential threats to habitats, organisms, and area aesthetics, and 7) develop options for augmented protection through intertidal zoning. Products: The principal threats to conservation and management identified were organism gathering and poaching, bait collection, trampling, wildlife disturbance, destructive tidepool exploration, souvenir collection, erosion on sea stacks, and beach fires. Seven potential intertidal reserve sites (i.e., no take areas) were selected through evaluation of a variety of attributes including habitat type, sensitivity to harvest impacts, and accessibility of the shore. Wildlife protection zones, intertidal areas closed to all access, except by permit or for emergency response, were recommended to create management consistency between intertidal and uplands portions of the federally owned islands and to provide maximum protection for the wildlife on the islands. The group also outlined a variety of creative management suggestions that could be implemented at high use zones, or areas that receive or are susceptible to physical disturbance as a result of high levels of visitation. Participants held differing opinions about whether implementation should be through voluntary or regulatory measures. A final report was prepared and presented to the Sanctuary Advisory Council to summarize the process, the range of opinions expressed, and the differing opinions developed by participants.

Contacts:
Liam Antrim/OCNMS liam.antrim@noaa.gov
Steven Fradkin/ONP steven_fradkin@nps.gov

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