PUBLIC FORUM - Any member of the public may
address and/or ask questions of the Commission
relating to the implementation of its policies
or any other matter within the jurisdiction
of the Commission. As a general rule, action
cannot be taken on issues not listed on the
agenda. Staff will normally be requested to
follow up on such items at the discretion
of the Commission.
Jim Stengle spoke on a possible request
from the Marin Municipal Water District to
conduct a food habit study on wild turkeys,
which would eliminate several hundred wild
turkeys. He noted that some of this information
may be rumor, but wanted to voice the concern
of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
Deputy Director Mastrup explained that
Marin County Water District has been concerned
with the number of turkeys on District Lands
and the resulting effects on watershed health
and water quality. He noted that the Department
is working with the District to address this
problem but there has not been a formal permit
request received at this time. He indicated
that the Commission would soon receive a draft
turkey management plan which will include
options for dealing with areas where turkeys
are not desirable. He noted that the Department
would share with the Commission, any future
permit requests having to do with turkey depredation
.
Phil Martinelli indicated further concern
on behalf of the California chapter of the
NWTF, regarding wild turkeys on watershed
land, especially with removing the turkeys
by lethal means. He noted that NWTF supported
the draft management plan that the Department
had recently posted. He read a statement from
the President of the NWTF California Chapter
which indicated that NWTF was willing to fund
the trapping and relocation all of the turkeys
found to be a nuisance, at no cost to the
water districts or the State of California.
Bob Strickland provided a letter to the
Commission regarding his concern that commercial
fisheries are not self sustaining, and that
recreational fishermen do not want their recreational
license money used to support those fisheries.
He requested that the Department provide a
breakdown of the cost of the fisheries including
all money that recreational fishermen are
contributing.
Tom Raftican supported Mr. Strickland's
comments and indicated that the commercial
squid fishery should be self supporting through
permits of landing taxes as it is the largest
fishery in the state. He indicated additional
concerns with program funding allocation and
suggested that the Department conduct an audit
of fishery program expenses and publish those
results for public review and comment; he
noted that a formal letter of request would
be forthcoming.
Karen Reyna commended the Commission
on requesting additional information on the
squid FMP at the last meeting, and thanked
the Department for providing that information.
She indicated that they are coordinating with
a panel of scientists to provide additional
squid fishery data to the Department. She
stated that they are concerned with the squid
FMP's problem statement, in that the goals
and objectives do not match goals of Marine
Life Management Act. She noted that at the
last meeting, she had provided an informational
packet on squid as forage, and would like
to see a range of alternatives added to the
plan based on this information. She noted
that they will be submitting substantial comments
at the upcoming special meetings. She questioned
if adoption of the plan had indeed been delayed
until the December meeting.
Executive Director Treanor confirmed
that the adoption hearing had been extended
until December.
Eric Mills commented that he believes
wild turkeys are a non-native species. He
indicated that he visits markets in China
Town on a weekly basis and regularly sees
prohibited turtles and bull frogs that are
being mistreated and many are being dumped
into the wild. He requested that the Commission
consider a ban on the importation of turtles
and bull frogs. He noted that there is a lake
in Golden Gate Park that is inhabited by hundreds
of African clawed frogs that are a huge problem
to native species. He wants to know what the
Department is going to do about the situation.
Paul Weakland provided the Commission
with an article from Marine Management Newsletter
on the abalone management plan. He commented
that the Department and Commission had missed
all of their deadlines and that none of the
public comments from that last seven years
on abalone had been addressed. He stated that
the studies from Bodega Bay Marine lab on
the subject are all skewed. He questioned
when this issue would be resolved. He noted
that the squid landings from last year brought
in a lot of money which never seems to be
enough.
Executive Director Treanor clarified
that the special meetings on the Abalone Recovery
and Management Plan are being scheduled and
that the new deadline for consideration of
adoption is set for the December meeting in
Sacramento.
Craig Bell discussed the Butte Creek
spring run salmon kill. He commented that
PG&E could do more to manipulate water
flows to improve and reduce water temperature
which is the cause of the gill disease killing
the spring run chinook salmon.
Deputy Director Mastrup responded that
this is an ongoing problem as water management
is very complicated in this state, and that
they are currently discussing issue.
