CFSB Board Meeting Minutes - December 16th, 2025 4PM
Attendees: Gary Burke, Shaun Roche, Mike Kenny, Jason Woods, Chris Voss, Kim Selkoe, Ben Hyman, Michael Harrington, Jonathan Woodcock, Jeff Maassen, Mary Nishimoto, Andy Rasmussen, Michael Hayden, Ed Anderson, Miles Wallace, Blake Hermann, Harry Liquornik, Jeff Hepp, Bernard Friedman, John Hoadley, Shane Robinson
Notes: Ava Schulenberg
Agenda:
*Housekeeping, time limits, 3 minute maximum policy on individual comments
Fishing Communities Coalition Update
Vessel Insurance - Michael Hayden
Christmas Party this Thursday 12/18 at The Brewhouse 5:30PM
RSVP with Ava
Recent Ocean Protection Council Meetings Recap - Chris Voss
Reissuing confiscated fishing permits
Implementing 30x30
Pychnopodia grant money
MPA connectivity
Bernard’s Kelp Project
MPA Update - Blake Hermann
Harbor dredging
Last remaining cycle, won’t start til 2026
MRC Meeting Recap
Gillnet fishery Indy article
Saturday Fishermen’s Market
Ava resigning
Ocean Collective project update
Purple urchin removal/kelp restoration project update
Sea urchin market - Jeff Maassen
Safety gear reimbursement
Cable Committee new grant app
2026 Dues
Please don’t forget to sign up to avoid membership interruption in the new year 🙂
Recording: N/A
Zoom Info:
Ava Schulenberg is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 915 9217 9160
---
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,91592179160# US (Chicago)
+13462487799,,91592179160# US (Houston)
Join instructions
Chris calls the meeting to order at 4:02PM upstairs in the harbor classroom.
Agenda:
Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC) Update
Kim explains FCC’s history and recaps Noah Oppenheim’s presentation from last month’s meeting
The way they work is they figure out what the issues are that we want action on on the federal level and they’ll pay for fishermen to go to capital hill to brief staffers and lawmakers on our biggest issues
Community led fisheries management is one of the issues they focus on
Being a member involves us attending their meetings and paying a $2500 joining fee (subsequent years it’s $5,000)
Ava will represent the lobster association (CLTFA) in addition to CFSB in tandem with Kim
Jeff Maassen asks if we get reimbursed for the $2,500 and the $5,000
Kim says yes based on engagement, the only cost that ends up being on the association’s staff time
Gary asks where they get their money
Kim says Walton Family foundation, the Builders Foundation, Noah says they are completely independent and even sometimes directly oppose other initiatives that are directly put forth by those foundations
The organization has been around 10 years
Jeff asks if we have enough staff time to do this
Kim says between all of us yes it’s not a huge time commitment every month (2-4 hrs), plus you don’t have to attend every meeting
The lobster association wants Ava to do this on their behalf too
Kim says it would be good to get more exposure to federal advocacy for Ava
Gary says Adam Schiff voted to eliminate his fishery so he opposes anything he supports
Kim says Adam is pretty tangential to this and Chris says it’s important to not confuse these 2 things
Kim and Chris say their experience with Noah has been positive over the past 10 years and that he did well at PCFFA
Kim says the mislabeling in the urchin industry is something we can spotlight with our involvement
Jason says he’d be happy to sit in on some of the meetings since he is also the President of the VCCFA
Jason says high reward low risk so he makes a motion that we do it
Harry seconds, unanimous approval 5-0-0
They’re tapping us because of our geographic representation and because of our ability to engage effectively; there’s only 6 or 7 national fishing associations in FCC
Vessel Insurance - Michael Hayden
Ava introduces Michael Hayden who was referred by the Waterfront Department and a couple other commercial fishermen; he’s based in Newport Beach
Chris asks if someone was really cheap and all he wanted to do was meet the requirement that the City of SB was placing on my vessel for insurance, what would that look like?
Michael says yes this would be liability only and he says he could find a substantially less than if you had hull as well
Jeff asks if it requires a survey
Michael says not necessarily it depends on the year of the boat but liability only can be possible without a survey
Gary asks if they would insure a 70 year old wooden boat
Michael says yes it’s possible with the right survey
The deadline is 60 days after January 1st, 2026 when the new policy becomes active
Miles asks about a group policy but not til after Michael signs off so Ava will ask and follow up with everyone
His email is [email protected]
Christmas Party this Thursday 12/18 at The Brewhouse 5:30PM
RSVP with Ava
Helpful for headcount for food
Recent Ocean Protection Council Meetings Recap - Chris Voss
Reissuing confiscated fishing permits
Chris says this came up when Chris Miller’s permit was revoked and CDFW said they didn’t plan on reissuing it; he suggested to CDFW that we need to think about a less dangerous road to go down where we don’t get shrunk down and maybe our association can be issued a permit or something along those lines
Implementing 30x30
Chris says existing protections put the state at 22.5% (including the new 6.5% from the Chumash Sanctuary)
Chris worries that the remaining percentage will be sought after from the MPA petition process
Pychnopodia grant money
Chris reminds the group that Reuven from the Sunflower Star Lab came and spoke to our association at a recent board meeting (you can view the recording here) and discussed their organization’s goals
They were awarded $250K by the OPC
MPA connectivity
Chris reminds everyone that we’ve recently won an international conservation award for our existing network
Harry says this goes back to Channel Islands with the scorched earth, they’re not giving any credit for existing stuff
Bernard’s Kelp Project
Not a big farm 20 acres 1000x1000ft
Bernard says they want to make it accessible to the public (snorkeling, fishing, visits)
The anchorage is on the inside of the site
Shane asks about the cruise ships
Bernard says they go on the other side, you can see it on Google Earth
Jeff asks about what type of kelp
Bernard says not Macrocsytis and primarily growing/experimenting for eating; all native kelp
Bernard says kelp attracts kelp so once you start growing it different species attach and then you’ll get some other kelp
Mike Kenny asks about coordinates that could be given out now?
Bernard says not yet because the site might be adjusted in the permitting process
Gary says it looks like it’s in the transit area
Bernard says yes but hopefully not too big of a barrier
Mike Kenny says it shouldn’t be an issue as someone who transits up and down the coast often
Kim asks about grant funding
Bernard says you can make it expensive or cheap, they have a grant pending, but they have a lot of the equipment already and could get going on the cheap.
Mike Kenny asks about environmental impact studies
Bernard says they’re working on that now but it’s hard you ask stuff and they ignore you
Jeff asks about using his existing farm for this experimental farm?
Bernard says it’s a different animal
Bernard says he’s happy to answer any questions anytime
MPA Update - Blake Hermann
Blake gives an update on where we are in the process; here’s a recent staff report screenshot
that’s helpful
CDFW recommendations expected in March
Sometime in April (likely 4/21) , Half Moon Bay meeting for the North Coast
Kim says we should send someone to this meeting and see how theirs goes
Chris agrees and says that’s a good idea to see how we can make our effective
Sometime in May (likely 5th or 7th) Santa Barbara meeting
Chris emphasizes that he wants every one of the guys in this room and every fisherman to attend and voice opposition but also tells the group that we need to be very respectful and professional during this meeting because they will shut it down if we don’t compose ourselves
Blake says there’s enough reason within the opposition argument that there’s actually no need to get emotional because the facts of the situation are so clearly absurd that hopefully our argument speaks for itself in terms of how passionate are opposition is
Blake says having the meeting in SB will be great because we’ll get fleets from down south as well as central CA like Avila as there are proposals that impact them too and this location will be more convenient for them then going up to Half Moon Bay
Harry reminds the room that this will be the first agency meeting on this in our area which is not cool
Blake says it will be an all-day event; he worries that it will be 500 30-second comments which is not productive
Ava will of course distribute any logistical details as soon as they come in
The commission will also hold a third port meeting sometime in May (likely the 19th) in San Diego
The petition process supposed to be all done and wrapped up with recommendations by the end of next year; action-planning meeting in November is likely
There have been no changes/amendments to any local petitions
The Commission doesn’t want any more changes/amendments at this point
Blake gives a recap of all local petitions:
- Carp Reef proposal - now 9 sq mi, west half of the reef, allowing shore fishing ,
- extension of Anacapa - changing a lot maybe just removing lobster from that section,
- Gull Island extension
- Environment CA’s kelp focused petition: Santa Rosa extension - S. Pt to west pt out to 3 miles - biggest proposal & expansion of PTC going east,
- Blake’s petition to open areas to pelagic
Harry says that if they’re going to take Carp they need to take Naples out
Kim says unfortunately that’s not on the table but yes distance-wise that argument makes no sense to keep them all
Kim says it’s important to get allies here because we need groups like Heal the Ocean, UCSB folks maybe, etc on our side before the community-wide meeting
Ava will work to plan their presence at a board meeting prior to the agency-held meeting
John says that at recent meetings he’s seen more PhDs and other academic-type people that speak out in opposition (Ava was at a local spearfishing meeting with John where this took place and a guy named Jason Johns or something like that presented against our local MPA petition expansions)
Harbor dredging
Last remaining cycle, won’t start til 2026
Ava put this on the agenda because some people have been asking and Jeff said he almost hit bottom recently leaving the harbor
Gary says we’re lucky it’s not closed right now
Shane asks about the Coast Guard Cutter
Chris says the feds are not getting the funding so unfortunately that doesn’t matter if they have no money
Kim says this is actually inaccurate based on what she could find online with ChatGPT:
Harbor Commission documents from August 2025 note that as of that meeting, federal dredge funding for Fiscal Year 2026 had not yet been approved. The Waterfront Director discussed rolling over funds from 2025 and exploring other sources (including possible FEMA funds). The problem is next year’s federal allocation hadn’t been finalized.Local officials (including Congressman Salud Carbajal) have been working with the Army Corps of Engineers to advocate for continued appropriations.As of late 2025, Congress has not passed the full annual appropriations bills for FY 2026 for most of the government, including the Energy and Water Development bill that funds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (which controls federal dredging projects). Instead, a continuing resolution (CR) extends FY 2025 funding levels—and keeps dredging funding at existing amounts—through January 30, 2026. Because the CR is temporary, Congress must complete the appropriations process by the end of January 2026 (or pass another extension) to avoid a lapse. This is a good time to encourage elected officials to advocate for making sure that these delays do not impact harbor dredging in Santa Barbara.
Harry says if it starts to close off they’ll move it to Ventura
Gary says the recent Harbor Commission meeting basically was a declaration of how they need more money and are going to take it from 90 minute parking and raising slip fees and that they should’ve just put a new engine in that old harbor patrol boat instead of buying new ones
Makes sense for us to appeal to Carbajal and Gary says we should reach out to Randy Rowse as well because he probably knows exactly what’s going on
MRC Meeting Recap
Gillnet fishery Indy article
Chris says he criticized the entire Commission at a recent meeting for letting the gillnet ban bill pass - it went against all regular legislative protocol
Gary says if you die you can’t transfer it, and you have to have 15 out of 20 years of landings in order to even being transferable; Gary says he kicks himself for not going to Sacramento to try to stop this
All of this will only invite more imports; the opposite of sustainable fishing
Saturday Fishermen’s Market
Ava resigning
The market will be self-managing starting January 1st, 2026, so please contact one of the vendors if you have any questions about the market or if you’re interested in applying
Ocean Collective project update - not covered
Purple urchin removal/kelp restoration project update - not covered
Sea urchin market - Jeff Maassen
Chris says he talked to Scotty and David Goldenberg and Jeff said he hasn’t gotten any response other than a shitty email
Current status is 1000lbs per boat for 1 company and other companies that have days that they’re not buying
Jeff says he wants to hear Chris talk over Mike Kenny’s to prioritize non-buyer perspective that might have a different motive (Mike was going to give a report from his conversation with Gene)
Chris says Godlenberg has reached out to his federal representative McClintock around the mislabeling issue because we can’t stop an urchin buying company from importing urchins but we can scream bloody murder if they’re mislabeling foreign urchin as domestically harvested urchin
The economy has slowed as well that doesn’t help the demand
Shane says there’s processors but also food purveyors like true-world foods etc. that can be fueling this problem by not having to even label but just going straight to restaurants
Jeff says to Chris that we need solutions and asks Chris to hire consultants to research for further controls and says CFSB has the financial and economic wherewithal to help fix this problem because the Urchin Commission isn’t doing the groundwork
Chris says doing this independent of the Urchin Commission doesn’t make sense so even though they’re not calling Jeff back, this is squarely their problem
Chris says he doesn’t see a super clear path forward here even though Jeff is pushing for us to solve this giant problem
Harry says sell them cheaper so you can sell to Japan again because when our markets are strong this is what happens
Harry says we can try the Dept of Commerce
Ava has been pursuing them weekly for the lobster market crisis including going in person (in addition to calls, emails, letters, etc.) with no response
Jeff says he wants CFSB to allocate $5,000 to hire a consultant and Harry says to do what?
Jeff says to approach the Dept of Commerce
Shane says what if CFSB allocates that money to Ava to do this or something?
Ava doesn’t have the bandwidth and is already doing this as aggressively as possible for the lobster association
Harry says there was no complaints when we were exporting
He says the price and the domestic demand has gone up so the bottom line is this has just come about in the past couple of months and you can’t expect all organizations to drop everything they’re doing and deal with this because we need to bark at the federal representatives. Harry tells Jeff to ask their field reps (Chris says like McClintock)
Mike says this has been years not just the past few months
Jeff says he wishes that his port association (CFSB) would offer support in terms of financial and spirit
Shaun asks Harry if he thinks this is just a market/economic thing that doesn’t make sense to pursue/keep banging our heads?
Harry says not necessarily don’t pursue but it’s a motherfucker
Shaun says he had a long talk with Gene and he knows everyone is up in arms about Russian uni coming in and his take was does it affect the market? A little bit but it’s not huge, his take is that the Mexican uni is the one affecting our price. He said Hongkong and Korea is how they backdoor the Chinese market and now China’s demand is down and Mexican B grade is 40% cheaper than our B grade and they’re having a hard time moving their B grade to China
Shaun says back to Jeff’s concern, it seems he’s looking for a starting point and Shaun says it makes sense to get the international data and go from there
Jason says if you don’t like your processor’s price you need to start a direct marketing component to your business model because if everyone had this the processors become less important because you manage your own price. He says it’s easier than you think; John agrees
Jason says he will work with Jeff to come up with a comprehensive plan
Harry and John are the Urchin Commission local reps so Jeff says he hopes that them being here helps escalate his request
Harry says they did send Jeff a letter
If the dollar collapses our buying power goes down
Jeff says they’ll prepare a proposal and bring it to the next meeting
Safety gear reimbursement
Cable Committee new grant app
2026 Dues
Please don’t forget to sign up to avoid membership interruption in the new year 🙂
Chris ends the meeting at 6:19PM upstairs in the harbor classroom.