CDFW News

CDFW Finds Starvation to be Primary Cause of Increased Mortalities in California Seabirds

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:22:24 GMT

Increase in Seabird Deaths Not Linked to Avian Influenza

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has been investigating increased reports of debilitated and dead seabirds on California beaches. Of the birds examined, nearly all have been younger birds that are emaciated, sometimes with opportunistic fungal respiratory infection and/or heavy parasitism, or with secondary injuries.

CDFW began receiving reports last fall initially involving Brandt’s cormorants and common murres and have more recently included California brown pelicans along California’s central and southern coasts, roughly Mendocino County south to San Diego County. Additionally, many wildlife rehabilitation facilities have been admitting increased numbers of debilitated cormorants, murres and pelicans.

Avian influenza has not been detected in the 33 Brandt’s cormorants examined to-date by CDFW. Partners have tested an additional 22 cormorants with preliminary detections of avian influenza in only two cormorants collected in early January from San Francisco County. Avian influenza has not been detected in the roughly 34 common murres tested by CDFW and partners. Preliminary detections of avian influenza have been made in only four murres, two collected from San Mateo County in January and February, and two collected in early March from Marin and Santa Cruz counties, respectively. Testing is ongoing for additional birds collected in recent weeks.

Avian influenza H5N1 was first detected in California wild birds in July 2022. Since then, avian influenza activity in wild birds has typically increased during fall migration and winter and then decreased during spring migration and summer. Although avian influenza H5N1 was recently detected in marine mammals along coastal San Mateo County, this current seabird mortality appears to be largely unrelated to avian influenza activity.

Brandt’s cormorants, common murres, and brown pelicans breed on offshore rocks and islands along the coast. Seabird researchers have reported that 2025 was an unusually good reproductive year for these species. An increase in reproduction is often followed by high juvenile mortality. Young seabirds are typically less experienced at catching prey and are less resilient to changes in food resource availability and adverse weather such as severe wind or winter storms.

Wildlife officials will continue to monitor impacted seabirds from affected areas to better determine if other factors begin to contribute to the seabird mortality. For example, Brandt’s cormorants are sometimes impacted by a parasitic infection called Sarcocystis calchasi, and seabirds and marine mammals are periodically impacted by harmful algal blooms like domoic acid.

Officials ask the public not to touch, harass, attempt to feed or take photographs with debilitated seabirds. Do not attempt to remove any fishing lines or embedded fishing hooks from entangled birds.

How Can the Public Help?

Report stranded seabirds:

Call your local wildlife rehabilitation facility

Report dead seabirds:

Residents can report dead wildlife to CDFW’s Wildlife Health Laboratory using the mortality reporting form, which helps biologists monitor the event. Please include photos if possible.

Support a local wildlife rehabilitation facility:

Contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitation facility intaking seabirds directly for how best to assist.

Report marine mammals:

To report a dead, injured or stranded marine mammal in California, call the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region Stranding Hotline: (866) 767-6114. Information on species and regional stranding contacts may be found on the NOAA Fisheries website.

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Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Krysta Rogers, CDFW Wildlife Branch, (916) 358-2790

Vessel Operators Settle Violations Stemming from Anchor Strike on Crude Oil Pipeline

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:40:12 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention & Response (CDFW-OSPR) has settled violations stemming from a January 2021 incident in which the anchors of two vessels impacted an offshore oil pipeline, which later ruptured and discharged nearly 25,000 gallons of crude oil that impacted Orange County beaches.

CDFW OSPR issued an administrative complaint against the owners and operators of the BEIJING and the MSC DANIT, alleging that, during a severe storm on January 25, 2021, each vessel’s anchor fouled on a crude oil pipeline for several hours before freeing itself. The pipeline connects an offshore platform located off the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to an onshore facility. California law requires large “disabled” vessels to report such a condition to the U.S. Coast Guard and to report oil spill threats to the Office of Emergency Services.

Early notification is a key safety measure. It provides commercial operators and response agencies with the opportunity to evaluate potential concerns, conduct timely inspections when needed, and take proactive steps to protect the environment and coastal communities.

A subsequent National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that both anchors struck the pipeline during the storm occurred in the vicinity of the pipeline that later failed (NTSB MIR 24-01 Anchor Strike of Underwater Pipeline and Eventual Crude Oil Release).

The settlements allow all involved parties to move forward with a shared focus on enhancing safety and strengthening marine environmental protections. As part of the settlements, CDFW-OSPR received a combined $150,000 in administrative penalties. These funds will directly support habitat enhancement projects across California, contributing to healthier ecosystems and long-term resource stewardship.

An additional $50,000 was provided to the Marine Exchange of Southern California for the acquisition and installation of an Automatic Identification System (AIS) send/receive unit, which will automatically track incoming and outgoing vessels. This upgraded AIS capability will be integrated into the existing vessel traffic service system for the Los Angeles/Long Beach region. Enhanced AIS coverage will improve offshore visibility, support safer navigation, and provide meaningful benefits to the maritime community through better situational awareness and more effective coordination during periods of severe weather.

CDFW-OSPR remains committed to working in partnership with maritime stakeholders, government agencies, and local communities to advance marine safety and protect California’s coastal environment.

Persons with disabilities needing reasonable accommodation to participate in public meetings or other CDFW activities are invited to contact CDFW's Accessibility Coordinator in the CRO Office at (916) 902-5577, or send an email to CivilRights@wildlife.ca.gov. Reasonable Accommodation requests for facility and/or meeting accessibility should be received at least 21 days prior to the event. Requests for American Sign Language Interpreters should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event, and requests for Real-Time Captioning at least four weeks prior to the event. These timeframes are to help ensure that the requested accommodation is met. If a request for an accommodation has been submitted but due to circumstances is no longer needed, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator immediately.

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Media Contacts:
Eric Laughlin, CDFW-OSPR Communications, (916) 214-3279
Ryan Todd, CDFW-OSPR Legal Branch, (916) 698-0036

California Fish and Game Commission Finds CESA Protections Warranted for Southern California and Central Coast Mountain Lion

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:43:22 GMT

In Other Regulatory Action, Commission Streamlines Charitable Donation of Sport-Caught Fish

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) at its Feb. 11-12 meeting voted to list mountain lion populations in parts of southern California and the central coast as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).

In a unanimous vote, the Commission determined that listing a distinct population segment of mountain lions in southern California and the central coast is warranted due to threats such as habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and isolation of small populations as a result of expanding human infrastructure, among others. The Commission considered presentations from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on its species status review and from the listing petitioner the Center for Biological Diversity, as well as public comment. The Commission will adopt its findings at a future meeting.

“This segment of the mountain lion population is clearly at risk from distinct threats,” said President Eric Sklar. “Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation by roads, freeways and housing, and mortality from vehicle strikes, rodenticides and risks of isolation and inbreeding would lead to the extinction of these mountain lions if we remained on the same trajectory.”

Following the 1974 ban on hunting mountain lions in California, in 1990 voters approved Proposition 117, which designated mountain lion a specially protected mammal in the state and established some exemptions for lethal removal of mountain lions to preserve public safety and to protect private property and livestock. The Commission noted that those statutory provisions remain intact and that this listing is focused specifically on preventing the potential loss of the identified population segment through science-based management and conservation action.

Donation of Sport-Caught Fish

The Commission adopted regulatory amendments related to processing and donating sport-caught fish. Sport fishing license holders who exchange fish for processing will be able to donate their fish to charities directly through fish processors rather than having to deliver the fish themselves as presently allowed. The adopted amendments streamline the donation of sport-caught fish to nonprofit organizations, California Native American tribes, public schools within a California unified school district and California city or county government programs. The changes will provide sport fishing license holders the opportunity to support nonprofit, community, school and tribal initiatives addressing food insecurity, access and distribution.

Commission Elections, Committee Assignments and Meeting Participation

In its first meeting of 2026, Commissioner Eric Sklar was elected Commission president and Commissioner Darius Anderson vice president. The Commission moved to retain Marine Resources, Wildlife Resources and Tribal Committee co-chair assignments — Sklar and Commissioner Samantha Murray will continue to serve on the Marine Resources Committee, Anderson and Commissioner Erica Zavaleta on the Wildlife Resources Committee and Commissioner Jacque Hostler-Carmesin on the Tribal Committee.

Sklar, Zavaleta and Murray were in attendance for both days of the February Commission meeting held in Sacramento; Hostler-Carmesin and Anderson were absent both meeting dates.

The complete agenda for the meeting, along with supporting information, is available on the Commission website. Archived video of past Commission meetings is available online. The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for April 15-16, 2026, at the California Natural Resources Agency building in Sacramento. Participants are encouraged to attend in person, with options available for Zoom or phone; for more information visit the Commission website.

The Commission authorized public notice of upcoming potential regulation changes related to:

Central Valley and Klamath River Basin sport fishing regulations: A discussion hearing is scheduled for April 15-16 and an adoption hearing for May 6 on proposed amendments related to Central Valley and Klamath River Basin sport fishing regulations.

Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Jen Benedet, CDFW Communications, (916) 202-4465

California Fish and Game Commission Extends Red Abalone Recreational Fishery Closure, Finds CESA Listing of Bear Lake Buckwheat Warranted

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:27:02 GMT

In a move to protect red abalone populations that have suffered drastic population decline, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) at its Dec. 10-11 meeting extended the red abalone recreational fishery closure 10 years. The Commission also approved listing Bear Lake buckwheat as an endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) and received the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) status review report for mountain lion in the central coast and southern parts of California.

The Commission unanimously voted to adopt regulatory amendments to extend the red abalone recreational fishery closure in Northern California until April 1, 2036. The Commission determined that continuing the closure is necessary to protect red abalone and help facilitate its restoration.

California's red abalone population suffered a drastic decline, approximately 85%, following the 2014 kelp forest collapse triggered by a marine heatwave. The loss of kelp greatly contributed to this decline and the increase in purple sea urchin densities prevent kelp recovery, abalone’s primary food source. CDFW will be supporting abalone restoration through the development of a statewide red abalone restoration plan that will include robust and adaptive strategies to support abalone populations.

The Commission determined that listing Bear Lake buckwheat as an endangered species under CESA is warranted and will adopt its findings at a future meeting. CDFW’s Native Plant Program reported that a September 2025 survey counted as few as 744 Bear Lake buckwheat plants over 1.5 acres of land not far from the shores of human-made Big Bear Lake in Southern California. That 1.5 acres is the only location in the world where this rare, small shrub is known to grow. Bear Lake buckwheat faces threats including habitat destruction and human disturbances.

The Commission received CDFW’s status review report for mountain lion in the central coast and southern parts of California. The status review report follows the Commission’s April 16, 2020, decision that a petition may be warranted to list mountain lion species in those portions of California as threatened or endangered under CESA. CDFW found that these mountain lion populations are discrete, significant and imperiled, and recommended the Commission identify a distinct population segment of mountain lions to be listed as threatened. The report contains the most current information available on mountain lion in in the central coast and southern parts of California and serves as the basis for CDFW’s recommendation to the Commission. The Commission is expected to consider the recommendation and petitioned action at an upcoming meeting. For additional information on the listing process and CDFW’s prepared status review, please see Petitions to List Species Under the California Endangered Species Act.

Meeting Participation and Next Meeting

Commission President Erika Zavaleta, Vice President Samantha Murray and Commissioner Eric Sklar were in attendance for both days of the December Commission meeting held in Sacramento; Commissioner Hostler-Carmesin was absent for a portion of the Dec. 10 meeting and Commissioner Darius Anderson was absent both meeting dates.

The complete agenda for the meeting, along with supporting information, is available on the Commission website. Archived video of past Commission meetings is available online. The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Feb. 11-12, 2026, in Sacramento. Participants are encouraged to attend in person, with options available for Zoom or phone; for more information visit the Commission website.

The Commission authorized public notice of upcoming potential regulation changes related to:

Waterfowl hunting: A discussion hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11-12 and an adoption hearing April 15-16 on proposed amendments to waterfowl hunting regulations to comply with proposed frameworks for 2026-27 hunting seasons approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Bighorn sheep hunting: A discussion hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11-12 and an adoption hearing April 15-16 on proposed regulation changes for the 2026-27 bighorn sheep hunting season.

Pronghorn antelope hunting: A discussion hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11-12 and an adoption hearing April 15-16 on recommended regulation changes for the 2026-27 pronghorn antelope hunting season.

Elk hunting: A discussion hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11-12 and an adoption hearing April 15-16 on recommended regulation changes for 2026-27 elk hunting seasons.

Black bear hunting: A discussion hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11-12 and an adoption hearing April 15-16 on proposed amendments to black bear hunting regulations.

Commercial coonstripe shrimp fishery: A discussion and adoption hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11-12 on proposed amendments to regulations governing the commercial coonstripe shrimp trap fishery.

Processing and donating sport-caught fish: A discussion and adoption hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11-12 on proposed amendments to regulations regarding processing and donating sport-caught fish.

Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Katie Talbot, CDFW Communications, (916) 204-1381

Waterfowl Hunts Coming Up at CDFW Ecological Reserve in East Bay

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:58:00 GMT

Beginning November 20, hunters can participate in waterfowl hunts on Congressman Pete Stark Ecological Reserve at Eden Landing in Hayward. Managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the ecological reserve features restored salt pond habitat.

Access to the ecological reserve will require no entry fee and be open to 100 hunters on a first-come, first-served basis on the following dates:

2025 hunts (4:30 a.m. check-in)

Thursday, November 20
Saturday, November 29
Thursday, December 4
Saturday, December 13
Thursday, December 18
Saturday, December 27

2026 hunts (4:30 a.m. check-in)

Tuesday, January 6
Saturday, January 10
Thursday, January 15
Saturday, January 24

“These hunts typically have a two- to three-bird average per hunter with northern shoveler and American wigeon being the most common harvest,” said Wildlife Biologist and Reserve Manager Garrett Allen. “Eden Landing waterfowl hunts are unique in that there are no entry fees charged and hunting is offered on some Tuesdays and Thursdays when other public waterfowl hunting areas are closed.”

Adult hunters must have a valid California Hunting License, federal duck stamp, state duck validation and Harvest Information Program validations. Junior hunters must have a junior license and, if 16 or older, also possess a federal duck stamp. Junior hunters must be accompanied by an adult 18 years or older (hunter or non-hunter).

There is a 25-shell limit in the field and nonlead ammunition is required when taking wildlife anywhere in California. A hunting dog is recommended for retrieving birds. A small boat, canoe or other floatation device is also highly recommended to access ponds and blinds. The ecological reserve has a boat launch on Mount Eden Creek allowing access to tidal areas. Boaters are advised to consult local tide charts before launching as mud flats can subject vessels to hidden underwater hazards during low tides.

Hunters should also be aware that vehicle access to some areas of the ecological reserve may be temporarily limited due to ongoing levee maintenance. Hunters are responsible for avoiding closed areas.

To access Congressman Pete Stark Ecological Reserve at Eden Landing from Interstate 880: Exit at Alvarado Boulevard; continue west and turn right on Union City Boulevard; left on Bettencourt Road (look for Union Sanitary District sign); left on Whipple Road, right on Horner Street; right on Veasy Street. Enter at the yellow gate and proceed to the check station.

Additional public access opportunities at the reserve are available. More information is available at wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Eden-Landing-ER and South Bay Salt Ponds Restoration Project at www.southbayrestoration.org.

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Media Contacts:
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Garrett Allen, CDFW Bay Delta Region, (707) 428-2076