Extension Partnership Roles for California Clean Boating

	Speaker:
	Leigh Taylor Johnson Marine Advisor University of California Sea Grant Extension Program
	Description: The California boating industry generated $16.5 billion dollars in 2000 through local and tourist activities. Sea Grant Extension has worked as an advisor and partner to the California boating industry, boating associations, regulatory agency staff and policymakers, municipalities and nonprofit organizations since 1992 in a variety of roles. Principles of Extension Public Policy Education have been used to maintain a neutral and effective role in highly charged situations that inevitably occur when trying to balance economic and environmental sustainability without losing the "fun" of a recreation and tourism based industry. These roles have included writing a marina pollution prevention manual and clean boating brochures for boaters, marina staff and contractors; conducting seminars on pollution prevention for boaters and marina managers in partnership with industry, agencies and municipalities; a policy conference, research, publications, seminars, field days and a television documentary on alternatives to toxic boat bottom paints; and advising a San Diego regional area committee that is developing a template for an industry-based Clean Marina review and designation process. A series of Regional Water Quality Control Boards that administer boating water quality regulation, the proximity of Mexico to southern California and the large number of international cruisers complicate matters. We will use a short presentation and group discussion to examine roles for Extension as neutral convenor, researcher and educator in creating effective partnerships for clean boating. Learning objectives will include recognizing the variety of roles available to an Extension professional, how to handle clean boating policy issues, and how to maintain neutrality in highly charged situations. A short questionnaire will be used to assess audience learning and insights after the program. Note: This session should be integrated with case studies from Florida and Texas.