Discussion of California Spiny Lobster Regulatory Amendments Fish and Game Commission Meeting April 13-14, 2016 Thomas Mason Senior Environmental Scientist Supervisor, Marine Region D. Stein- CDFW

Presentation Outline Background and Overview of Proposed Amendments Details of Proposed Amendments: – Fishery Management Plan (FMP) – Recreational Fishery – Commercial Fishery Effective Dates of Regulations Next Steps and Timeline D. Stein- CDFW

Lobster Advisory Committee (LAC) ( ) - Developed 14 management recommendations Background June FGC directed Department to develop a regulatory package based on recommendations Department - Added 6 recommendations D. Stein- CDFW February Authorization to publish notice of intent to amend regulations

Overview of Proposed Changes Amend 6 existing sections (§):Recreational: § 29.80: Gear Restriction for take of all crustaceans § 29.90: Take, Season, and PossessionCommercial: 121 § 121: Lobster Season and Possession § 121.5: Lobster Minimum Size 122 § 122: Lobster Permits and Restricted Areas 705 § 705: Applications, Permits, Tags, and Fees Add 3 new sections (§): 54 § 54: Lobster Fishery Management Plan (new) § 122.1: Trap Limit Provisions (new) § 122.2: Pulling of Lobster Traps (new)

FMP Regulations Section New Article 5 in Chapter 5.5, Title 14, CCR § Purpose and Scope § Definitions § Management Process and Timing § Harvest Control Rule

Recreational Amendments Sections and CDFW Require hole-punching or fin- clipping of retained lobster Prohibition on release of marked lobster Season opener to start at 6:00 am (currently 12:01 am) Clarify that spearfishing gear may be possessed while lobster diving

Measuring requirements: Allow hoop netters to measure lobsters out of the water Hoop nets: Require marking of surface buoy with GO ID# *except from shore & manmade structures Recreational Amendments Sections and CDFW

Season and minimum size: Moved into Title 14 to provide authority to adopt conservation measures prescribed by the FMP Sale of marked lobster: Prohibit hole punched or fin-clipped lobsters in markets Commercial Amendments Sections 121 & D. Stein- CDFW

Existing regulations: Reorganized and clarified - Harbor restricted area descriptions updated Permit transfers: Update procedures - New lobster operator permit transfer application Lobster logbook: Update with new fields Commercial Amendments Section 122: Permits & Restricted Areas D. Stein- CDFW

Commercial Logbook Modifications Commercial Lobster Logbook 1. Coordinates for trap locations 2. Additional space for landing receipt numbers 3. Total number of traps currently deployed -

Commercial Amendments Add New Section Trap limit program: 300 traps per lobster operator permit Allow permittees to hold two lobster permits Establish lobster trap and buoy tag requirements Catastrophic trap tag loss affidavit Fees (Section 705) Permit fee increase of $396 Replacement tags ($1.25/tag) inches centimeters

Pulling of Lobster Traps: Pre/post-season trap deployment (6 to 9 days) Trap servicing requirement (4 to 7 days) Waiver to pull another permit holders traps Define abandoned traps Trap loss reporting Commercial Amendments Add New Section D. Stein- CDFW

Effective Dates of Regulations New Regulations Delayed Until Season: - Marking of hoop nets - New recreational season start time - Hole punching/fin-clipping - Commercial permit transfer procedures - Commercial trap tag program, fees and forms - Commercial trap setting and servicing requirements *Additional time needed to implement the trap tag program and notice changes within regulation booklets

Next steps Regulatory package released to public on April 8 starting 45 day review Please send public comments to Adoption hearing scheduled for the June, 2016 meeting D. Stein- CDFW

Thank You/Questions Photo Steve Barsky