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PUBLIC FORUM
Karen Reyna, Ocean Conservancy, provided
an update on the Squid Fishery Management Plan.
She stated that she had meet with squid fishermen,
Environmental NGOs, the Gulf of the Farallones
National Marine Sanctuary, the Pacific Coast
Federation of Fishermen's Associations, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department
of Fish and Game to discuss options. She indicated
that they would hopefully come back to the Commission
in March with some options.
Peter Halmay, Sea Urchin Harvesters Association
of California, discussed SB 389, authored by
Senator Alpert, which established a sea urchin
marketing commission under the Department of
Food and Agriculture. He stated that though
the idea taxing the industry is not popular,
it allows for work which needs to be done to
continue. He indicated that the program has
been started and the goal is to have 100 divers
collecting fishery data which will benefit the
fishery in years to come.
Jeff Miller, Center for Biological Diversity,
indicated that he has sent a letter to Governor
Schwarzenegger and Director Broddrick requesting
an investigation into an alleged suppressed
Department report on the western burrowing owl
petition. He requested that the Commission reconsider
the petition. He stated that he believed a Department
report which recommended candidacy status for
the western burrowing owl has been suppressed
and that the Department refused to release the
document pursuant to a Public Records Act request.
He indicated that the Department has characterized
the report as a draft but that the two reports
reach opposite conclusions. He indicated that
the Commission was misled concerning a shift
in density and stated that there is no factual
basis for the belief that the owls can move
somewhere else. He stated that there is more
data on the status and declines of western burrowing
owls than exists for other species and that
the Department exaggerated the population estimate,
giving an extremely biased and flawed report.
He stated that the Commission failed to address
whether the burrowing owl was threatened in
a significant portion of its range. He urged
the Commission not to ratify its findings.
Lynne Corboz, representing the Casta del
Sol Homeowners' Association, requested the Commission
to once again direct the Department to investigate
and develop regulations for a special hunt under
Section 325 of the Fish and Game Code for a
large surplus of cottontail rabbits at her association.
Sonke Mastrup reported that the cottontail
rabbit problem is also an ongoing issue in other
areas of the state, that the Department has
been investigating this issue and is focusing
on a legislative remedy. He reminded the Commission
that Section 325 requires a hearing in the county
before the surplus hunt can be approved. He
pointed out that the Commission may adopt regulations
which would allow the use of box traps to take
cottontails in Orange County. He emphasized
that the rabbits taken must be eaten.
Commissioner Flores asked whether the rabbits
could be donated to others.
Deputy Director Mastrup replied that they
could. He reminded the Commission that
Commissioner Hattoy has previously volunteered
to chair the county hearing. He further stated
that the Department is willing to bring a proposal
to the Commission which would authorize the
use of box traps in Orange County.
Ms. Corboz asked whether the Commission
would include the use of air guns in the special
hunt regulations. She stated that while the
City Council has an ordinance prohibiting the
use of air guns, a permit for a state legalizing
the taking of rabbits would enable them to approve
a variance.
Deputy Director Mastrup replied that air
rifles are currently a legal method of take.
Ms. Corboz indicated that she has submitted
a proposal to amend the hunting regulations
to allow the use of box traps in Orange County.
Commissioner Schuchat asked whether allowing
the use of box traps would solve the problem.
Ms. Corboz answered that a special hunt
would also be needed to solve the problem.
The Commission directed the Department to
develop a proposal to amend the hunting regulations
to include box traps and to also develop regulations
for a special hunt pursuant to Section 325 of
the Fish and Game Code.
Commissioner Schuchat expressed concerns
about wanton waste of animals taken.
Paul Weakland provided a handout concerning
problems with aquaculture and hatcheries. He
stated that the laws regulating aquaculture
are not adequate. He indicated that once one
problem is solved, another surfaces, and that
will continue to happen. He commented that too
much genetic diversity stops spawning. He remarked
that the Department has refused to show facts,
misrepresented data, and purged information
from its records He stated that we need to rid
ourselves of the problems with aquaculture and
that mechanisms in nature are not being acknowledged.
Bob Strickland, United Anglers, stated that
he is not against commercial fishing but would
like to see limited entry in every fishery.
He commented that if we don't have enough fish,
we shouldn't continue to let people into a fishery.
He expressed concern about the lack of wardens
and poaching. He asked how he could help to
get money for more wardens as we need to make
sure the wardens get sufficient pay.
President Flores instructed Mr. Strickland
to testify at the Legislative budget hearings
and make the legislators know there is a problem.
He stated that we need to rethink the role of
the warden and get them doing what they were
originally meant to do. He emphasized that the
Commission agrees and supports this endeavor.
Commissioner Schuchat expressed his agreement
with Mr. Strickland concerning restricted access
on all commercial fisheries. He stated that
we are moving in that direction, but it takes
a lot of time and energy to put the necessary
regulations in place.
Mr. Strickland expressed concern about commercial
fishermen selling fish right off their boats
in the harbor and the lack of accountability.
Pete Halmay explained that the fisherman
must buy a license to do this and must fill
out fish tickets and send them in. He stated
that wardens check these fishermen more often
than they check the larger fish buyers.
President Flores remarked that warden pay
is one issue on which all our constituents can
come together and work together.
Commissioner Schuchat stated that there
is no organized coalition in the Legislature
speaking on this issue.
Mr. Strickland indicated that he will do
his best to put one together.
Bob Ingles commented that he believes an
adjustment of the rockfish OY is needed since
fishing is taking place in deeper water now.
Executive Director Treanor stated that the
Commission must make decisions based on best
available data, yet doesn't have adequate data
to make its marine fishery decisions. He suggested
that the Commission's constituents should also
request the Legislature provide funding for
biologists and research, as well as warden pay
increases.
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