Moth pheromone application will begin Sept. 9.

Under pressure from three mayors, an Assemblyman, local nonprofits and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), the State has postponed plans to aerially spray the Peninsula with a synthetic pheromone designed to disrupt the light brown apple moth’s mating pattern – but only for four days. The spray, originally scheduled for Sept. 5-7, has been moved to Sept. 9-11.

On Aug. 29, California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura and members of his staff presented their case to more than 200 residents at the Monterey Conference Center. They emphasized the need to eradicate the invasive moth, which can damage more than 250 plant varieties, before it spreads.

During public comment, about 50 speakers questioned the health impacts of coating the area with pheromone products. Members of Helping Our Peninsula’s Environment cited a federal designation of the products as “moderately toxic” to marine invertebrates.

On Aug. 22, Monterey Mayor Chuck Della Sala sent a letter asking the State to postpone the spraying to allow for more public process. During a special meeting eight days later, the City Councilmembers unanimously opposed the aerial spraying and discussed legal options. Della Sala met with Secretary Kawamura on Aug. 31. That day, Assemblyman John Laird and Pacific Grove Mayor Dan Cort echoed the call for delay. On Sept. 4, Seaside Mayor Ralph Rubio also sent a letter to the state requesting a delay. That morning, MBNMS staff asked the California Department of Food and Agriculture for more information on the flight plan, as federal law prohibits discharges into the sanctuary without a permit.

Despite all the outcry, the State decided to delay the spray by only several days. “Now the secretary has decided to move forward,” says CDFA’s Steve Lyle.