Working Committee for Marine Interests Group

The Working Committee serves as a cross-section of marine interests. It gathers information, organizes public workshops for broad participation, and sorts through the information and options to make recommendations.

Criteria for Participation on MIG Working Committee (anticipate 15-20 members)

  1. Knowledgeable about the needs and interests of one or more of the key stakeholder groups.
  2. Fully support purpose and hopes for and guidelines for the MIG Working Committee.
  3. Committed and able to attend all public meetings to gather information and hear concerns and serve on behalf of the public.
  4. Committed and able to participate in all MIG Working Committee meetings to gather and review information and evaluate options.

Guidelines for the MIG Working Committee

  1. Summary notes from the meetings will be available for members of the Marine Interests Group and public to review.
  2. Any communications from MIG to public (including press) need authorization from full MIG Working Committee and specific review and approval from the Steering Subcommittee.
  3. Communications submitted from MIG members or the public will be listed, available for review in a file, and included in MIG Working Committee deliberations when the MIG Working Committee addresses the topic(s) covered.
  4. In order to encourage confidence from the public that all MIG Working Committee members are addressing the issues with an open mind, MIG Working Committee members voluntarily agree to suspend individually advocating a specific position or recommendation or criticizing other alternatives until the MIG Working Committee completes the process of gathering the facts, discussing the negatives and positives of the options, and reaching a set of MIG Working Committee conclusions.

Working Committee Members

Dan Berman, Dir., Morro Bay National Estuary Program
Shirley Bianchi, SLO County Supervisor
Tom Capen, Port San Luis Comm. Fishermen's Assn.
Nancy Dalman, Ph.D., Asst. Prof., Cuesta College
Ray Fields, aquaculture
Joy Fitzhugh, SLO County Farm Bureau
Matt Fleming, Chair, SLO Surfrider Foundation
Bob Hather, recreational fishing
Pam Heatherington, Exec. Dir., Environmental Center SLO
Tom Jones, Pacific Gas & Electric
Leslie Krinsk, at large, Sierra Club
Carolyn Moffatt, Commissioner, Port San Luis Harbor Dist.
Marla Morrissey, conservation
Jeremiah O'Brien, M.B. Commercial Fishermen's Organization
Henry Pontarelli, Morro Coast Audubon Society
John Rowley, Virg's Fishing & Whale Watching
Dave Rymal, sport fishing
Dave Sears, at large, ret'd California State Parks
Margaret Webb, MBNMS Advisory Council
Dean Wendt, Ph.D., Asst. Prof., Cal Poly State University
Patricia Wilmore, SLO Chamber of Commerce
Jim Wood, City of Morro Bay

Ex-officio Advisors

Greg Haas, District Representative, Congresswoman Capps
Sandy Agalos, District Coordinator, State Senator Maldonado
Robin Hayhurst, District Representative, Assemblymember Blakeslee
Richard Macedo, Legislative Aide, Supervisor Bianchi
Vicki Janssen, Legislative Aide, Supervisor Katcho

Independent Facilitator

Don Maruska, Don Maruska & Company, Inc.
Phone: 805-772-4667
Fax: 805-772-4697
Email: