Subject: N. CALIFORNIA: Abalone Closure?
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 21:14:21 -0700
From: "Rocky Daniels" <norcadiver@sonic.net>

Recently, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) made a presentation to the Marine Subcommittee of the Fish and Game Commission (FGC). That presentation was part of preparations for the FGC to change next year's abalone harvest regulations for northern California. The material presented to FGC can be found at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/ab_status/ncs_ab_resource.html

Having sat through presentations of the same material and having read volumes of background material, I'm convinced that CDFG is pitching the idea of a looming crisis for the northern resource. They're doing that, I believe, to marshal support for proactive management (which, IMO, would be an improvement). However, in making that pitch, I've been concerned that CDFG might oversell it. It now looks like that has happened: in response to the CDFG presentation, CFG is now demanding justification for keeping the northern California abalone fishery open. They (the FGC) are now convinced northern California's abalone resource is in crisis.

The situation is as ludicrous as it is outrageous. CDFG's data _MIGHT_ be a predictor of a future crisis. If (a huge if) that's the case, the data suggests northern California's resource mirrors the condition of southern California's resource of the 1960s or 1970s. That same data demonstrates there are more abalone off northern California today than in the 1980s.

Yet, from that data, CDFG is currently leaning toward a recommended change to 2 abalone per day/30 abalone per year. This is expected to reduce the 2002 harvest levels to 51% and 68% of the 2000 and 1997 levels, respectively. That would be a huge change that, in light of the 2 year regulatory cycle, will prove to be a gross over-reaction.

But the spin of the presentation to FGC did nothing but aggrevate the commissioner's concerns. The commissioners asked why the CDFG was not recommending a closure. Rather than pointing out: - the incredible densities (as in, historic highs) of mature abalone off northern California, - the naturally occurring, gigantic recruitment event that occurred in the late 1980s inspite of CDFG concerns (similiar to those today) but no regulatory changes, - the increasing sizes of abalone being landed today, - the 96% of harvester-trips that result in landing a limit, - the relatively radical change inherent in a 2 per day/30 per year recommendation, - the potential for regulation changes every few years, - ... the CDFG biologist responded with something like "because the recreational divers would skin me alive." Like I said, ludicrous and outrageous.

What can you do? As always, I would suggest getting involved by attending FGC hearings or writing to the commissioners (schedules and addresses are listed below). My recommendation would be to NOT address the possibility of a closure but, instead, to challenge the need for a 49% reduction in 2000 harvest levels; there's plenty of reasonable basis for challenging the need for such a radical change.

The addresses and commissioner's names are: Mr. Robert Treanor, Executive Director Mr. John Duffy, Assistant Executive Director Mr. Mike Chrisman, President Mr. Sam Schuchat, Vice President Mr. Michael Flores, Member

California Fish and Game Commission 1416 Ninth Street Sacramento, California 95814

CDFG will be presenting its recommended abalone regulation changes at the FGC hearing in Sacramento on August 8 and 9. There will be an opportunity for public input at the following hearings:

Receive Sport Fishing Recommendations August 3-4, 2001 Friday and Saturday Resources Building Auditorium 1416 Ninth Street Sacramento

August 23-24, 2001 Thursday and Friday City Hall/City Council Chambers 735 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara

Discuss Sport Fishing Recommendations October 4-5, 2001 Thursday and Friday Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute Shedd Auditorium 2595 Ingraham Street San Diego

Discuss Sport Fishing Recommendations November 1-2*, 2001 Thursday and Friday City Hall/City Council Chambers 777 Cypress Avenue Redding

Adopt Sport Fishing Recommendations December 6, 2001 Thursday California State University Office of the Chancellor Dumke Auditorium 401 Golden Shore Long Beach December 7*, 2001 Friday City Council Chambers 333 W. Ocean Blvd. Long Beach

Rocky Daniels Sebastopol, CA http://www.sonic.net/~rocky