Grays Harbor Marine Resources Committee Pending County Approval

Since spring 2008 Grays Harbor County and the Surfrider Foundation have been working alongside the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) on the implementation of a marine resources committee (MRC) for Grays Harbor County (GHC). MRCs originated in 1998 when Congress authorized them in northern Puget Sound counties to provide local, broad-based, grassroots level input to the Northwest Straits Commission for conservation efforts. In 2007, the Washington State Legislature passed Substitute House Bill 2049 to authorize (Coastal) MRCs in Pacific, Grays Harbor, and Wahkiakum counties, with additional financial resources approved in 2008. Simply put MRCs are a great local citizen driven mechanism to help address conservation issues via an ecosystem based approach. Grays Harbor County was the first to respond to this legislation, however Jefferson, Clallam, and Pacific counties have recently announced interest as well.

On January 14, 2009 the last of six exploratory meetings was held in Grays Harbor County at City Hall in Montesano. Those participating in these meetings have included local area citizens, commercial and recreational fishing groups, shellfish growers, tribal, city, and state governments, and conservation groups. At last week’s meeting it was agreed to make the recommendation to commissioners that a Grays Harbor MRC should be formed. A report summarizing the outcomes of all six meetings is being prepared for their review which includes the MRC’s practical vision, identification of potential obstacles, planned strategies, and proposed implementation tactics. It also identifies recommendations on key area issues, outlines priorities and objectives, and describes benchmarks for 2009/10. A decision is expected by March 2009 from the commissioners and if approved will initiate the process for appointing board members for the MRC.

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.

For additional information and updates on this process please visit http://www.co.grays-harbor.wa.us/info/pub_svcs/MRC/index.html or contact Brie Van Cleve, with the MRC Program at WDFW via email at vanclfbv@dfw.wa.gov or by calling (360) 902-2750. You can also stay up to date on coastal conservation in Washington by visiting http://surfriderwashingtonoutercoast.blogspot.com/.

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. For more information please visit http://www.surfrider.org/.