Welcome to Skagit County

August 30, 2002

Rocky Reef Bottomfish Recovery Final Reserve Site Recommendation

After more than two years spent on their Rocky Reef Bottomfish Recovery Project, the Skagit County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) has released a draft version of the Phase II Final Report. The report covers the assessment of eight potential marine reserve sites and the group's final site recommendations. The next step for bottomfish recovery depends on co-manager negotiations and reserve site implementation by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Treaty Tribes of Washington. The MRC hopes to be part of the continuing process and to eventually assist with reserve site monitoring, stewardship and public outreach & education efforts. But for now, it's a waiting game to see what the co-managers will do.

The MRC was formed in late 1999 after the regional Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative was enacted by Congress. This group of appointed citizen volunteers serves as an advisory board to the County Commissioners. With diverse representation, the MRC has been tracking important water quality, fisheries and habitat issues in Skagit County marine waters. Rocky reef bottomfish were identified as a priority issue and the group began its recovery project with initial funding received in 2000 from the Northwest Straits Commission.

Phase I of the project covered the preliminary assessment of, and public input about, marine reserves as a means to restore local stocks of rockfish, lingcod, greenling and other rocky reef species popular with sport and commercial fishers alike. Bottomfish populations have steadily declined in Puget Sound since the 1970s due to over-harvest, development pressures, and other environmental stressors. The group gathered and reviewed scientific literature on the subject, presented their findings to interested citizens at a series of public meetings, and compiled the concerns and input offered by the public. This overlap approach of science and public sentiment produced eight potential candidate sites for further consideration.

Phase II of the project began last fall and the MRC focused on more in-depth evaluation of the eight sites by hosting a technical review workshop with resource agency and university biologists and other experts. Workshop participants scored each site using over 20 assessment criteria. These findings were presented to the public for further citizen input and site evaluation and after reviewing the compilation of data and popular opinion, the MRC has formed their recommendations for marine reserves in Skagit County.

Included in the MRC's recommendations is the implementation of a reserve at either the Rosario area or the Allan Island area, one or two reserves at either the North Cypress, South Sinclair or the Strawberry Island areas, and a reserve at Burrows Channel. The group further recommends additional exploration of a possible reserve at the Padilla Bay Islands area, the possible use of artificial reefs, and a "zero bag limit" for rockfish.

The draft report is available for public review at numerous locations around the county including: Anacortes Public Library at City Hall, Anacortes Diving & Supply, Burlington Public Library, Mount Vernon Public Library and Skagit County Public Works Department. Comments on the draft report may be submitted in writing to Public Works - MRC Bottomfish, 1111 Cleveland Ave., Mount Vernon, WA 98273 and must be received by 5:00 p.m. on September 26, 2002. More information regarding the MRC and the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative is available at www.nwstraits.org.

Contact: Paul Dinnel, Skagit Marine Resources Committee
360/299-8468
padinnel@aol.com