Status Update: Grays Harbor Marine Resources Committee

Since spring of this year Grays Harbor County and the Surfrider Foundation have been working alongside the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) in the planning and facilitation of several informational workshops that have discussed the implementation of a Marine Resources Committee (MRC) in Grays Harbor County and on October 22nd the first of six exploratory meetings was held at Montesano City Hall to begin the second phase of this processes.

MRCs were first created in Washington in 1998 when Congress authorized them in northern Puget Sound counties to provide local, broad-based, grassroots level input to the Northwest Straits Commission. More recently, in 2007, the Washington State Legislature passed Substitute House Bill 2049 <http://www.washingtonvotes.org/2007-HB-2049> which authorized (Coastal) MRCs in Pacific, Grays Harbor, and Wahkiakum counties, and additional financial resources were approved in 2008. WDFW was directed to coordinate this outer coast effort by working with state, federal, local, and tribal governments to develop a collaborative process to address ocean policy issues. Washington’s “Ocean Action Plan” (December 2006) is serving as a guide for state and local ocean policy and activities. Grays Harbor County is the first county to begin the process of establishing a coastal MRC and is thereby serving as a pilot from which WDFW, the other coastal counties, and stakeholders can learn from.

Washington’s coastal and ocean resources provide vital economic, recreation, transportation, and cultural benefits to coastal and state residents. Identifying and implementing realistic, effective, and efficient solutions to the unique conservation and management issues of Washington’s outer coast will require utilizing the available knowledge and creative approaches of coastal citizens and leaders. MRCs are an effective mechanism to harness the dedication, creativity, and wisdom of coastal residents to compliment ongoing efforts to restore, protect, and manage coastal marine resources. They also provide the foundation for scientifically sound, locally supported marine conservation measures needed to address marine ecosystem issues within a county.

So far there has been an outpouring of support from local citizens to make this much needed coastal MRC a reality. For additional information and updates this process including upcoming meetings, please visit Grays Harbor County's website at http://www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us/info/pub_svcs/MRC/index.html or you may contact Brie Van Cleve, with the MRC Program at WDFW via email at http://www.blogger.com/vanclfbv@dfw.wa.gov or by calling (360) 902-2750.