• MRAA’s Advocacy Efforts Support Boating Access
• Shared Input on Proposed and Existing National Marine Sanctuaries
By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager
To ensure that recreational boating and fishing can continue to take place on waterbodies throughout the the country and keep customers frequenting your fuel dock, accessory store or service department, it’s important to advocate for access. That’s why the MRAA’s engagement efforts happen on both the state and federal levels. They take shape in many forms, from advocating for specific pieces of legislation that will create more opportunities, to providing comment on proposed policies and management plans to assure that access for recreational boating is not overlooked.
One recent example of advocacy contribution is the sharing of input with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration regarding a newly proposed and existing National Marine Sanctuary (NMS). I understand you may be asking what is an NMS? And does it really require the need to advocate for recreational boating access? I’ll answer both of these questions.
National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) are areas designated by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce to promote comprehensive management of the areas special resources ranging from its ecological and historical features to things such as its educational or recreational opportunities. These spaces merit an extra layer of recognition and conservation to assure that they can be enjoyed for generations to come. The process to nominate a zone as a sanctuary is a public, community-based process and allows interested individuals or groups to identify and recommend places worthy of designation.
Marine Sanctuaries are not just specific to the ocean but area also located in fresh water, like the Thunder Bay NMS, and in brackish waters like the Mallows Bay-Potomac River NMS. NOAA undergoes a lengthy and transparent process that is inclusive of the public and various stakeholders to ensure they are managed properly to conserve their important qualities. The process goes as such:
• Scoping: NOAA announces its interest in designating a new NMS and requests the public provide input on potential boundaries, resources that should be protected, issues NOAA should consider and any additional information.
• Sanctuary Proposal: NOAA prepares draft designation documents, which include a draft management plan, draft environmental impact statement, proposed regulations and proposed boundaries. NOAA may also form a “Sanctuary Advisory Council” to help inform the proposal and focus stakeholder input.
• Public Review: Members of the public, agency partners, tribes and other stakeholders provide input on the draft documents. NOAA then considers the input and determines appropriate changes.
• Sanctuary Designation: NOAA’s conclusionary process involves a final decision and the preparation of the final documents. Before the designation is effective, however, the Governor of the state the NMS is in, and Congress, review the documents.
The above is a truncated version of the NMS designation process, if you are seeking further detail, view this resource on the NOAA NMS website.
MRAA recently provided comment on two separate NMS, both in different stages of the designation process. One, the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, located off the coast of Massachusetts, was established on October 7, 1992, and was undergoing public comment on a Draft Management Plan, which occurs every 4 to 5 years. The other, the proposed Chumash Heritage NMS is located off the coast of Central California and is currently being considered for designation.
In both comments, we reinforced the importance of maintaining access for recreational boats because these areas provide numerous public opportunities, ranging from recreational fishing, to diving to whale watching. You can view our Chumash Letter here, and the Stellwagen Bank letter here. To discuss our advocacy efforts for access, email me at Chad@mraa.com.
