From: Santa Barbara Channelkeeper<info@...>

Date: June 21, 2006 9:46:46 AM PDT

To: strainoff@...

Subject: Channelkeeper Action Alert

Reply-To: info@...

ACTION ALERT! Help shape the future of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary!   The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has just released its long-awaited plan to strengthen and modernize protections for the spectacular wildlife and ecosystems that call the Sanctuary home. This update and revision to the Sanctuary's Management Plan represents a chance to maintain and extend protections for marine life and water quality in the Sanctuary. Please attend a public hearing on June 27 (Ventura) or June 29 (Santa Barbara), or submit written comments by July 21, and voice your support for strong environmental protections for our Sanctuary! The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has just released its long-awaited plan to strengthen and modernize protections for the spectacular wildlife and ecosystems that call the Sanctuary home. This update and revision to the Sanctuary's Management Plan represents a chance to maintain and extend protections for marine life and water quality in the Sanctuary. Please attend a public hearing on June 27 (Ventura) or June 29 (Santa Barbara), or submit written comments by July 21, and voice your support for strong environmental protections for our Sanctuary!   Your participation is needed to demonstrate the community's strong support for our Sanctuary and its conservation programs, as well as a chance to urge even more protection from threats that continue to pose risks to our offshore ecosystems.  Each issue area and form of protection -- from jet skis and cruise ships to oil development and tanker traffic -- is on the table for you to express concerns, suggestions or encouragement.    Please see below for a short list of suggested talking points you can use at the hearings or in your comment letter to support strong environmental protections in our Sanctuary.  But first, here is the information about the public hearings which will be held in Santa Barbara and Ventura -- please consider attending the one nearest you.    Ventura Tuesday, June 27, 6:15 PM Sheraton Four Points hotel San Buenaventura Ballroom 1050 Schooner Drive Ventura, CA -- Down by the Ventura harbor Santa Barbara Thursday, June 29, 6:15 PM Earl Warren Showgrounds Warren Hall 3400 Calle Real Santa Barbara, CA Talking Points   Water quality: I appreciate the Sanctuary's extensive treatment of the water quality topic and its commitment to continue monitoring to better understand and evaluate threats to Sanctuary water quality and to develop and implement a strong water quality protection plan to address these threats.  I encourage the Sanctuary to commit to creating a Water Quality Working Group immediately to begin guiding the development of such a plan. Discharge prohibition: I strongly support the proposed prohibition to clarify and strengthen the existing prohibition against discharging or depositing any material in the Sanctuary, in particular to exclude large vessels such as cruise ships from discharging treated sewage and graywater into the Sanctuary, and to prohibit the discharge of any material from beyond Sanctuary boundaries that subsequently enters the Sanctuary and injures Sanctuary resources. Jet Skis: I support the proposed ban on jet skis within one mile of the Islands.  I also urge the Sanctuary to consider banning these personal watercraft throughout the Sanctuary, or to establish no jet ski zones in areas of particular use by seabirds, pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), or whales and dolphins, such as offshore rocks and outcroppings. Cruise ships: A regulation should be established to ensure that cruise ship visitation does not occur near the islands.  I support strengthening the nearshore vessel operation regulation to prohibit the operation of large vessels greater than 150 gross registered tons within one mile of Island shores. Vessel to vessel oil transfer: I support the proposed prohibition against “lightering,” or the at-sea transfer of petroleum-based products or materials from one vessel to another, in the Sanctuary to prevent oil spills that may occur in this process. Aquaculture: A Sanctuary is a place where wild, native fish should be promoted, allowing natural systems to produce abundant and vibrant fish stocks. The Sanctuary should ban aquaculture, which can release non-native species, hormones and antibiotics, diseases and pollutants.  At a minimum, the Sanctuary should ensure that its existing regulations against releasing introduced species, prohibiting seabed alteration, and discharging pollution will ensure that aquaculture cannot occur in or adjacent to the Sanctuary. Enforcement: To promote resource protection through compliance with existing and new Sanctuary and other regulations, the Sanctuary must take all necessary measures to improve enforcement of all applicable regulations. I strongly support the proposed strategy to expand enforcement efforts to this end. General Sanctuary Management: I am proud and supportive of having a marine sanctuary in my home area.  I urge the Sanctuary to continue and expand its efforts to study and better protect its unique resources. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACTIVISM ON BEHALF OF CLEAN WATER INSANTA BARBARA AND VENTURA COUNTIES! Written comments can be submitted via email, mail or fax before July 21, 2006 to: Management Plan Coordinator, CINMS Email: cinms.mgtplan@... Mail:  Management Plan Coordinator Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary 113 Harbor Way, Suite 150 Santa Barbara, CA  93109 Fax:(805) 568-1582 Contact: Kira Schmidt Santa Barbara Channelkeeper 714 Bond Avenue Santa Barbara, CA 93103 Phone: (805) 563-3377 ext.1 Fax: (805) 687-5635 Email: kira@... © 2006 Santa Barbara Channelkeeper