San Juan Marine Resources Committee
With more than 170 named islands and countless rocky reefs and outcrops, San Juan County’s 408 miles of shoreline are the most of any county in the nation. Cold, nutrient-rich waters from the Pacific Ocean and strong tidal currents make ideal conditions for marine biodiversity. Because of this, San Juan County is home to one of the nation’s finest marine research centers at Friday Harbor Labs. There are nearly 16,000 full time or seasonal residents of the San Juan Islands. Tourism is extremely important to the county’s economy, with 23% of sales tax revenues stemming from visitor spending. Tourists and locals alike are drawn to the islands’ tremendous natural beauty and iconic wildlife. Many of the treaty tribes have Usual and Accustomed fishing areas in the San Juans.
The San Juan MRC’s 16 individuals represent local government, the Tulalip Tribes, Friday Harbor Labs, builders, local fishermen, boaters and economic, recreational and conservation interests. San Juan County was the first of the seven Marine Resources Committees and recently added the additional responsibility of serving as the county’s citizen advisory group for salmon recovery efforts. At this point, the MRC is fully integrating salmon recovery with their other work.
Over the last several years, San Juan MRC’s focus has been developing and refining the county-wide Marine Stewardship Area (MSA). This project has received recognition and support from organizations and foundations outside the Northwest Straits Initiative. In 2008, San Juan MSA served as a focal point for marine policy outreach, research and monitoring.
San Juan MRC also takes an active policy role, working with the county council to recommend actions to protect the marine environment and maritime livelihoods.
“To accomplish protection in the San Juan Marine Stewardship Area we’re working to create an effective circle of actions. We work with our community partners to support citizen science and encourage stewardship in the community. We’re offering training in sustainable practices for citizens and business owners. As we build a cadre of informed citizens, we improve our ability to track the health of the environment and gain tools for protection. The tools are then used to spread knowledge and love for the environment and to help support needed protections. The circle keeps widening and marine stewardship grows.” - Kit Rawson, chair of the San Juan MRC and Tulalip Tribes senior fisheries biologist
Click here to see the 2008 San Juan MRC project matrix.
Click here to see reports from some of San Juan MRC Projects
MRC Members
- Laura Arnold
- John Aschoff
- Lynn Danaher
- Michael Durland
- Johannes Krieger
- David Loyd
- Barbara Marrett
- Kit Rawson, Chair
- Steve Revella
- Ken Sebens
- Richard Strathmann
- Jim Slocomb, Vice Chair
- Jonathan White
- Tina Whitman
Contact
Mary Knackstedt, MRC Coordinator
maryk@co.san-juan.wa.us
135 Rhone Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 370-7592
San Juan MRC Meetings
Date: First & third Wednesday of each month, 8:30am - 10:30am
Meetings are generally held at the Islanders Bank community room, Friday Harbor.
Please contact Mary Knackstedt for details about specific meeting dates/locations.
Click the link below to go directly to the San Juan MRC website.
www.sjcmrc.org
