MRC super-sizes the stewardship area

San Juan County is slated to become a marine stewardship area under proposed legislation endorsed by a local advisory committee.

Members of the Marine Resources Committee (MRC) put the finishing touches on its proposal before submitting it Nov. 19 to the County Commission for final approval. Commissioners have yet to set a date for consideration of this legislation.

The plan adds community-based decisions regarding management of marine resources into the web of state and federal protections that exist in local waters, said MRC co-Chairman David Lloyd.

“It’s really a two-pronged approach,” said Lloyd, explaining how the proposal works. “It raises the level of awareness by having the whole county included in the stewardship area, but where our attention and efforts are focused depends on what the community thinks are priorities.”

In the San Juans, there are 83 national wildlife refuge zones and eight voluntary bottom-fish recovery zones. In addition, under state law, county waters are classified as a biological preserve and supervised by the University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories.

However, marine protected areas remain an exception rather than a rule. To date, one locally protected area has been established at Orcas Bay, where neighbors purchased a small tract of tidelands east of the ferry landing and donated it to the county Land Bank. In its proposal, the MRC envisions striking a balance between conservation and sustainable harvest of resources in the stewardship area.

This year, the advisory group’s annual work plan included identifying candidates for marine “protected” areas that qualify under local regulations. County commissioners endorsed the work plan earlier in the year. Several months ago, the committee replaced the word “protected” with the term “stewardship,” following a narrow vote.

Some thought-taking small steps only in areas where there is community support, to assure that each designated protected area is well-received. Others, including Dr. Dennis Willows, director of the University of Washington Friday Harbor Laboratories, backed making a bigger splash with an ambitious plan, despite the potential for controversy.

“The stronger the stance we take will make our approach distinct from other attempts around the region that have failed,” Willows said in support of a county-wide approach. “It increases our chance of doing something worthwhile.”

Lloyd said the second phase of the two-pronged approach involves public outreach and identifying what the community believes are critical issues facing the marine environment. Whether they are bottom-fish recovery zones or participation in oil-spill recovery, Lloyd said tapping public support is vital if conservation of resources and a stewardship area are going to succeed.

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