BILL NUMBER: SJR 18	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  MAY 27, 2010
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 17, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 17, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 6, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Simitian, Cedillo, Hancock, Maldonado,
Pavley, and Price
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Blumenfield, Chesbro, Huffman, Lieu,
Monning, Nava, Ruskin, Salas, Skinner, Ammiano, Arambula, Beall,
Block, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, CharlesB Calderon, Carter, Coto,
Davis, DeB LaB Torre, DeB Leon, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong,
Fuentes, Galgiani, Hall, Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Jones,
BonnieB Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, JohnB A.B Perez, V.B ManuelB Perez,
Portantino, Saldana, Swanson, Torlakson, and Torres)

                        AUGUST 25, 2009

   Relative to marine aquaculture.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SJR 18, Simitian. Marine aquaculture.
   This measure would request the Congress to develop a comprehensive
federal regulatory framework for marine aquaculture that undergoes
complete environmental review and is at least as protective as that
codified in California's Sustainable Oceans Act to address
environmental and economic concerns.



   WHEREAS, On June 12, 2009, President Barack Obama established the
federal Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force to make recommendations
for a comprehensive, integrated national policy that addresses the
use of ocean resources and ensures the protection, maintenance, and
restoration of the health of ocean and coastal ecosystems and
resources; and
   WHEREAS, The protection of California's spectacular 1,100-mile
coastline is of the utmost importance to Californians and our state's
coastal and ocean-dependent industries, including commercial
fishing; and
   WHEREAS, California's ocean waters contain marine protected areas
and national marine sanctuaries that have special conservation,
recreational, ecological, historical, cultural, archaeological,
scientific, educational, and aesthetic qualities and are particularly
sensitive to the impacts of marine aquaculture; and
   WHEREAS, Marine aquaculture poses serious risks to California's
ocean environment, including harmful interactions between escaped
fish and native ecosystems; pollution from excess nutrients, waste
feed, and release of drugs and chemicals; introduction and spread of
disease, pathogens, and parasites to the ocean environment and marine
wildlife; heightened pressure on ocean ecosystems through wild
capture of forage fish for feedstuffs; threats to maritime safety and
vessel navigation; potential negative public health impacts; and
stress on existing commercial fisheries and coastal dependent
communities; and
   WHEREAS, Without strict protections for the natural environment,
marine aquaculture has the potential to degrade the quality of our
ocean water and adversely impact our wildlife and resources,
including native fish and marine mammals such as the California seal
and sea lion; and
   WHEREAS, The California Sustainable Oceans Act (Chapter 36 of the
Statutes of 2006) creates the strongest state regulation of marine
aquaculture by providing comprehensive state standards and requiring
complete environmental review to guard against the risks associated
with marine aquaculture; and
   WHEREAS, Responsible marine aquaculture that includes strict and
enforceable standards to protect the environment and consumers has
the ability to supply consumers with safe and high quality seafood,
protect the ocean from harm, and ensure the health of native fish and
wildlife; and
   WHEREAS, Permitting marine aquaculture in federal waters without a
comprehensive, overarching federal regulatory framework that
includes science-based standards to protect the ocean could result in
significant and irreversible adverse environmental consequences to
coastal states; and
   WHEREAS, The permitting of marine aquaculture in federal waters
off California's coast is of special interest to the state because of
the risks that marine aquaculture poses to the state's ocean
ecosystems; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California
respectfully requests that the Congress of the United States develop
a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for marine aquaculture
that undergoes complete environmental review and is at least as
protective as that codified in California's Sustainable Oceans Act to
address the many environmental and economic concerns; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California
respectfully opposes expansion of marine aquaculture off the Pacific
Coast without such a regulatory framework in place, and respectfully
opposes any federal policies and legislation that would weaken
California's role in marine aquaculture permitting decisions, given
the threat that marine aquaculture poses to the integrity of
California's coastal and ocean health, dependent tourism, and fishing
economies and communities; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States,
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to each Senator and
Representative from California in the Congress of the United States,
to the Secretary of Commerce, and to the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.