California Fish and Game Commission Holds Hybrid Meeting
At its June 19-20 meeting in Mammoth Lakes, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) acted on issues affecting a variety of California's natural resources.
The Commission approved several Private Land Management (PLM) areas for initial, five-year and annual plans.
The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy was approved for its five-year renewal plan with an initial 500 deer tags to be issued for the 2024 hunting season. Upon written request in October, 250 additional deer tags may be issued, and an additional request of 250 deer tags may be submitted in December. More information on the PLM Program, including lists for hunters, contacts and applications, can be found at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) PLM website.
The Commission adopted proposed emergency regulations for deer tagging and reporting requirements to increase surveillance and limit the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). In May 2024, CWD was confirmed in two California deer populations and the Commission determined adoption of these regulations is necessary, pursuant to Section 399 of the California Fish and Game Code. More information on CWD and the department’s surveillance efforts can be found on the CWD website.
The Commission found the petition to list white sturgeon as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) contained sufficient information to determine listing may be warranted. CDFW will now begin conducting a status review of the species to determine if listing under CESA is warranted and a final decision will be made at a 2025 Commission meeting. Once notice of the decision is published by the Office of Administrative Law, white sturgeon will become a candidate species under CESA and take of white sturgeon will be prohibited without specific take authorizations. The Commission also directed CDFW to bring to the August Commission meeting regulation options to allow the take of white sturgeon by recreational fishing under Section 2084 of the California Fish and Game Code.
The Commission also approved a revised resolution to recognize the 100-year anniversary of the extirpation of the California grizzly bear (Ursus arctos californicus). This resolution aligns with the California State Senate declaring 2024 the Year of the California Grizzly Bear.
The finding supporting the decision to list Milo Baker’s lupine (Lupinus milobakeri) as an endangered species under the California Endangered Species Act was adopted by the Commission.
An Experimental Fishing Permit application to conduct exploratory fishing of brown box crab and testing on-demand buoy retrieval systems in deep water in northern California was denied. Commissioners recommended the applicant work with the department and submit a modified application in the future, once similar studies have been completed and data evaluated.
A petition to allow recreational anglers to donate fish to non-profits under a sport-caught fish exchange permit was approved. The petition will now be considered in a rulemaking under specific conditions at future Commission meetings.
Commission President Samantha Murray, Vice President Erika Zavaleta, and Commissioners Jacque Hostler-Carmesin and Darius Anderson participated in person with Commission and department staff throughout the meeting. Commissioner Eric Sklar was present only Wednesday.
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 Fortuna, Humboldt County, on August 14-15, 2024. Participants can attend in person, via Zoom or phone. The location will be determined and updated on the Commission’s website soon.
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Media Contact:
Taylor Williams, CDFW R3 Manager.
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The California Fish and Game Commission was one of the first wildlife conservation agencies in the United States, predating even the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries. There is often confusion about the distinction between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the Commission. In the most basic terms, CDFW implements and enforces the regulations set by the Commission, as well as provides biological data and expertise to inform the Commission’s decision-making process.