CDFW News

California Fish and Game Commission Guards State Waters Against Golden Mussels, Extends Sturgeon Fishing Restrictions with Added Guidance

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:47:00 GMT

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) acted on a variety of issues affecting California’s natural resources at its Dec.11-12 meeting in Sacramento, including emergency action to list the invasive golden mussel as a restricted species. The Commission also acted to extend emergency regulations 90 days for the recreational catch-and-release white sturgeon season and added language for permitted catch handling. The public was able to participate in the meeting in person, via webinar and by phone.

To protect California against the spread of invasive golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) discovered Oct. 17 at the Port of Stockton, and in the days following as far south as San Luis Reservoir’s O'Neill Forebay, the Commission added golden mussel to the list of species restricted from live importation, transportation and possession. This discovery is North America’s first; golden mussel is native to China and Southeast Asia and was likely transported across the ocean on large ships.

“Golden mussels are a bigger threat to California waters than quagga and zebra mussels because they can thrive in a wider range of water quality conditions,” said Jay Rowan, Chief of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Fisheries Branch. “Putting golden mussels on the restricted species list is an important first step toward containment and prevention of spread of this non-native species.”

The emergency listing will reduce the potential for people to introduce the bivalves to other waters of the state. The species poses an immediate threat to the ecological health of the Delta and all waters of the state, water conveyance systems, infrastructure and water quality. The Commission’s action makes it illegal to be in possession or transport golden mussels in California.

A 90-day extension of emergency regulations for the recreational take of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) was adopted by the Commission.

In June, white sturgeon was named a candidate species to be considered for protection under the California Endangered Species Act. Following that action, on Oct. 1 the fishery was limited to sport catch-and-release fishing through an emergency regulation that was set to expire March 5, 2025.

Continuing the catch-and-release fishery for white sturgeon is necessary to provide an important recreational opportunity for anglers and to mitigate adverse economic impacts to businesses that rely on the fishery, until a permanent regulation is implemented.

Language was also added to the regulations regarding proper handling of white sturgeon. More information on CDFW’s white sturgeon catch-and-release best practices can be viewed online.

During the Commission meeting, CDFW honored Wildlife Officer Laura Decker as Wildlife Officer of the Year for 2023. The Commission recognized and thanked Wildlife Officer Decker, accompanied by her K-9 partner Maverick, for her dedication and contributions to CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division.

Serving as a wildlife officer since 2018, Decker’s patrols have taken her up and down the coastline of California assisting other wildlife officers in need. Decker was also commended for her abilities as a trainer of other wildlife officers, passing on her expertise in everything from field response to first-aid treatment that can be life saving for officers working in remote locations.

“In the short time on patrol, Decker became relied upon as an exceptionally dedicated officer, investigator and a true asset to CDFW,” said CDFW Chief of Law Enforcement Nathaniel Arnold.

The Commission approved a major amendment request to expand an experimental fishing permit (EFP) testing pop-up gear in the California Dungeness crab and hagfish fisheries. The EFP aims to minimize whale entanglements in these commercial fisheries.

As recommended by the Commission’s Marine Resources Committee, the Commission also granted 12 actions for marine protected area (MPA) regulation changes that will be considered by the Commission in a future rulemaking and seven non-regulatory requests related to color-coding different types of MPAs. Color-coded MPA maps help the public identify and understand differences in regulations.

Commission President Samantha Murray, Vice President Erika Zavaleta and commissioners Jacque Hostler-Carmesin, Eric Sklar and Darius Anderson participated in person, with Commission and department staff present throughout the meeting. Commissioners Sklar and Anderson were not in attendance for the second day of the meeting.

The agenda for this meeting, along with supporting information, is available on the Commission website. Archived video of past Commission meetings is available online. The next California Fish and Game Commission meeting is scheduled to occur in Sacramento Feb. 12-13, 2025. Participants can attend via Zoom, phone or in person at the Natural Resources Headquarters Building’s auditorium, 715 P St., Sacramento.

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

Tribal Representatives, Researchers and Stakeholders Join State to Discuss the First Ten Years of California’s Marine Protected Area Network

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:57:40 GMT

Today at the Management Review Forum held in Monterey, nearly 300 participants representing state agencies, California Tribes, researchers, environmental groups, commercial and recreational fisheries, and others joined together to discuss the first 10 years of California’s globally recognized Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network. Presented to the California Fish and Game Commission in February, the MPA Decadal Management Review (PDF) report is the first comprehensive statewide review of California’s MPA Network and Management Program.

Panelists at the forum engaged with participants in lively discussions across the four pillars of the MPA Management Program, which include research and monitoring, enforcement and compliance, outreach and education, and policy and permitting.

“The discussions today highlight how important the MPA network and ocean resources are to California tribes and residents,” said Charlton H. Bonham, Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). “It is encouraging to see our program working and how far we’ve come.”

“Our California coast is world-renowned for its beauty, biodiversity and recreational opportunities. It’s also important to our economy,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “Our MPAs help conserve these incredible resources, so I’m excited we’re reflecting on how these protected areas have worked during their first decade in operation and how we can adapt and improve this network moving forward.”

“California’s MPAs were designed through a valuable public-private partnership that included our stakeholders, state and federal natural resource management agencies, tribes and tribal communities, and the public,” said California Fish and Game Commission President Eric Sklar. “In the 10 years since, the network ultimately adopted by the Commission has been stewarded by CDFW, its partners and diverse communities empowered through local collaboratives to contribute to protecting our ocean. I look forward to engaging with our stakeholders tomorrow to hear more about their experiences with, and reflections on, the network.”

The discussions at the forum today will inform the next steps, which will be considered at the March 16 Marine Resources Committee meeting (PDF) of the Commission, where members of the public may provide comments and reflections on the review and recommendations. In April 2023, the Commission will begin considering which adaptive management recommendations from the review and the public will be prioritized for the next 10 years of the adaptive management review cycle.

In 1999, the State Legislature passed the historic Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) to protect California’s marine biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems. The MLPA required the establishment of a statewide, science-based network of MPAs. From 2004-2012, planning took place through a science-based, policy-guided, stakeholder-driven process, resulting in 124 MPAs. Today, the MPA Network encompasses 852 square miles (16 percent) of state waters, making California home to one of the largest ecologically connected networks in the world.

To access the video of today’s forum or to learn more about California’s MPA Management Program please visit CDFW’s MPA Decadal Review web page.

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Media Contacts:
Becky Ota, CDFW Marine Region, (650) 743-7934
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

Commercial Poachers Convicted for Illegal Fishing in Marine Protected Areas

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 14:33:10 GMT

A San Diego County judge recently imposed a $5,000 fine on a Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel (CPFV) operating in a Marine Protected Area (MPA), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced. It was the first implementation of increased commercial poaching fines and penalties under Assembly Bill 2369, authored by San Diego Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher. AB 2369, which is specific to illegal activity in California’s MPAs, went into effect in Jan. 2019.

The case was tried in San Diego County Superior Court and prosecuted by San Diego County Deputy District Attorney, Landy Spencer-Daly.

The case was initiated in December 2020 by wildlife officers aboard the CDFW patrol boat Thresher as they patrolled the Swami’s State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), one of many regions of California’s coast protected by designation as an MPA. Swami’s SMCA is located midway along the coast of San Diego County. Acting on a tip regarding illegal fishing in the SMCA, the officers noticed the CPFV Electra on their radar and their Automatic Identification System inside the northwest corner of the SMCA. As the Thresher approached the Electra, wildlife officers noticed passengers on the boat reeling in lines and keeping fish. After boarding the vessel for inspection, the officers clearly documented commercial passenger fishing vessel activity and cited the vessel’s captain for fishing in the Swami’s SMCA. The case was solidified with further documentation of the vessel’s presence in the MPA via the shore-based radar Marine Monitor vessel tracking system. The Electra is owned by Helgren’s Sportfishing, based out of Oceanside Harbor.

In November, Helgren’s Sportfishing, through owner Joseph Helgren, pleaded guilty to a violation of Fish and Game Code, section 12012.5, resulting in a fine of $5,000 and an order to stay out of Swami’s SMCA for one year.

“The $5,000 minimum fine imposed in the Electra case is the first of its kind since the law was passed,” stated David Bess, CDFW Deputy Director and Chief of the Law Enforcement Division. “We hope the Electra case disposition will send a message that commercial fishing in an MPA will be stopped by wildlife officers and will result in substantial fines.”

The law specifically states that if a CPFV operator fishes or facilitates fishing in an MPA, that operator is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $40,000, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both a fine and imprisonment. If a person is convicted of a subsequent violation occurring within 10 years of a prior violation that resulted in a conviction, CDFW may suspend that person’s commercial fishing license. Subsequent violations are also subject to fines of not less than $10,000 nor more than $50,000, imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by both a fine and imprisonment.

Media Contact:
Capt. Patrick Foy, CDFW Law Enforcement Division, (916) 508-7095