California Fish and Game Commission Holds Hybrid Meeting
At its October meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission acted on several issues affecting California’s natural resources. The following are just a few items of interest from this month’s meeting held in San Jose and Trinidad, with an option for the public to join via Zoom.
The Commission adopted regulations to clarify inland sportfishing regulations, and regulations for mitigating risks for cervid importation and movement to prevent chronic wasting disease from entering California.
The Commission adopted emergency regulations to reduce harvest of white sturgeon for 2023-2024.
The Commission heard a presentation on the history of the Heritage and Wild Trout Program, after which they approved the proposed designated waters for 2023. This year’s waters include Fish and Sharktooth creeks in Fresno and Madera counties. Sharktooth Creek provides backcountry anglers with a rare opportunity to catch an out-of-basin Paiute cutthroat trout. Also added to the list were the Hilton Lakes complex in Mono County, which contains four different trout species in a sub-alpine setting.
The Commission voted unanimously to list Lime Ridge eriastrum as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).
The Commission voted unanimously to list Inyo rock daisy as threatened under CESA.
The Commission recognized Daniel P. Connelly, Joseph Fleskes, Beth Huning and Albert Seeno Jr. as this year’s inductees into the California Waterfowlers Hall of Fame.
The Commission extended the existing emergency regulations for California halibut daily bag and possession limits.
Commission President Eric Sklar, Vice President Erika Zavaleta and Commissioner Samantha Murray participated from San Jose. Commissioner Jacque Hostler-Carmesin participated from Trinidad. There is currently one vacancy on the Commission.
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 meeting of the full Commission is scheduled for December 13-14, 2023 in the San Diego area and via Zoom.
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Media Contact:
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352
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.