At its June 2018 meeting in Sacramento, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) voted unanimously to adopt the 
2018 Master Plan for Fisheries: A Guide for Implementation of the Marine Life Management Act (PDF). The 2018 Master Plan will be made available online as a full document, as well as each chapter, over the coming weeks. This page will be updated to link to this new web page once it becomes available.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and our partners are currently working together with Tribes and stakeholders to amend the Marine Life Management Act (MLMA) Master Plan. The amended MLMA Master Plan will be designed to:
- Enhance the sustainability of the state’s ocean fisheries;
- Elevate ecosystem health in decision-making;
- Help promote more efficient, effective, and streamlined fisheries management;
- Establish a clear pathway for improving the management of individual fisheries;
- Set clear expectations for managers and the public; and
- Foster transparency and flexibility in fisheries management with Tribes and native communities, stakeholders, and interested members of the public.
A phased approach (PDF) is being used for the process to amend the MLMA Master Plan:
Information Gathering Phase (2016): Led by CDFW, information gathering projects (PDF) developed tools and recommendations to be considered during the Amendment Phase. Work products and tools developed by each project were assessed by CDFW, with input from stakeholders and the Fish and Game Commission Marine Resources Committee, and considered for integration into a draft amended Master Plan framework. Work conducted prior to the Information Gathering Phase, including existing Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) and Lessons Learned from California’s Marine Life Management Act (PDF) was also considered.
Amendment Phase (late 2016-2017): This phase covered the drafting of the amended Master Plan. “Stakeholder discussion” webinars, and community workshops and meetings, also occurred in this phase, providing Tribes and stakeholders the opportunity to review, discuss, and provide feedback on the tools and approaches that CDFW was considering as part of the Master Plan amendment process. In response to stakeholders’ requests, and in recognition of the importance and value of continued stakeholder input throughout the amendment process, CDFW released an initial draft of the amended Master Plan in Fall 2017 for public review and comment prior to submitting a revised draft to the Fish and Game Commission.
Review and Possible Adoption Phase (2018): CDFW will submit the draft 2018 Master Plan to the Fish and Game Commission in early 2018 and initiate a three-meeting process for review, discussion, and possible adoption by mid-2018. The draft 2018 Master Plan submitted to the Commission will consider stakeholder recommendations and comments received during the initial public review process. Opportunities for Tribes and stakeholders to provide input will continue.
The 2018 Master Plan must be formally adopted at the conclusion of the Commission process in order to be implemented. The 2018 Master Plan will aim to reflect the interests and priorities of Tribes and stakeholders invested in a sustainable future for California’s fisheries.
For more information about the MLMA Master Plan Amendment process, contact MLMA@wildlife.ca.gov.