Staying informed about changing regulations and pending decisions is crucial for the local fishing industry. Active participation in these processes makes a significant impact.

Read below about the recent PFMC decision on a deep-sea coral study, shaped by local fishermen's unified efforts to engage with testimony and public comments. We thank everyone who engaged at the Council or through us to keep vital fishing grounds accessible while preserving Monterey Bay's resources.

Learn more about that decision below, plus a call to action for public comments on upcoming MPA petitions, a recent salmon smolt release, and more.

Final Decision -

MBNMS Coral Restoration & Research

The PFMC made a final decision at the recent June meeting in San Diego to approve one Groundfish Exclusion Area (GEA) to establish a deep-sea coral (DSC) restoration and research site. The initial proposal went from 10 areas, down to 3 to be considered at this meeting as final alternatives, and after public testimony, including from local Monterey Bay Fishermen and MBFT Executive Director Melissa Mahoney, the council decided to reduce the study areas from 3 to 1.

MPA Public Comment

At its February meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission (CFGC) referred 20 petitions to amend MPA regulations to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for review, evaluation, and recommendation. CDFW will present the draft proposed binning (sorting) of petitions to the CFGC at the Marine Resources Committee meeting on July 17, 2024 for further discussion.

CFGC is seeking public feedback on this petition binning, and the deadline for public comment to be included in the meeting materials is quickly approaching.

Public comment must be submitted by JULY 5th to be included in the meeting materials, and can be submitted by:

1. E-mail to fgc@fgc.ca.gov
2. Mail to California Fish and Game Commission, P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090
3. Deliver to California Fish and Game Commission, 715 P Street, 16th floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 

Salmon Smolt Release

The Monterey Bay Salmon and Trout Project assisted with CDFW's salmon release, releasing over 150,000 juvenile chinook salmon off of the Santa Cruz Wharf on June 3rd in support of local fisheries.

Putting the smolts, directly into the ocean rather than into riverways helps them avoid invasive predators and poor habitat conditions in the California Bay-Delta, including water pollution, warming water temperatures and low water levels.

Salmon Disaster Relief Update

The 2023 Salmon Disaster Spend Plan has been finalized. Monies are expected to begin being disbursed later this summer. For more information visit the CDFW Disaster Info page HERE.

To help expedite approval, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) sent a letter to Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Shalanda Young and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & NOAA Administrator Dr. Richard Spinrad requesting the administration expedite the review and approval of the 2023 California fisheries disaster request. The letter can be viewed HERE.

A symposium at UC Davis in early May explored the the sustainability of the federal fishery disaster declaration program, particularly in light of climate change impacts, and to explore additional tools to mitigate community impacts in the future.

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For more information about our programs and to access resources relevant to the fishing industry, visit the Fisherman's Portal on our website.