Fish and Game Commission Meeting, April 13, 2016 Draft CA Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan Adoption Dr. Julia Coates Environmental Scientist, Marine Region Ron McPeak
Presentation Outline Recap FMP delivery and discussion meetings Summary of public comments Response to comments & FMP edits Environmental review (CEQA) Next steps Ron McPeak
Recap of Delivery & Discussion Meetings FMP development Harvest control rule management framework FMP edited in response to peer review Inoperative statutes LAC near-consensus recommendations and other issues not identified by LAC Derek Stein, CDFW
Public Comments Summary of comments, FMP edits & Department responses in binder No changes to the HCR 3 general categories – Whale entanglement – Recreational fishery – Fishery-independent data Regulatory comments to be addressed in the rulemaking process Ron McPeak
FMP Edits Whale entanglement – Scope of issue, recognition of serious injury, updated stock assessments (2.3.3) Recreational fishery – Need for data improvements and possible collection methods (5.1.1 & 5.2) Fisheries-independent data – Support development of new, collaborative programs (4.2.2 & 5.1) – CalCOFI phyllosoma data (5.1.2) FMP does not preclude development of new data streams or regulations (6.2.1)
FMP Edits Cont. LAC near-consensus items – Ban of conical hoop nets & recreational season limit – Forward to Appendix IX Issues not discussed during LAC process – Comment summary Ron McPeak
Environmental Review (CEQA) Initial Study/Negative Declaration – no significant effects resulting from FMP + regulatory package Released for a 45-day public review period (1/21/16 to 3/7/16) Comments of note – Tribal consultation – Environmental Impact Report rather than ND due to whale impacts See responses to comments in the Final IS/ND
CEQA Whale Entanglement Accountability for traps – Trap limit – Mandatory trap loss reporting Aids to enforcement – Trap tags Aids to trap recovery – Definition of abandonment – SCUBA gear allowed – Log improvements: GPS, # traps in use, electronic Ron McPeak
Next Steps Request FMP adoption and CEQA certification today Regulatory proposal discussion today Initial statement of reasons (ISOR) in your binder Possible adoption of regulations at June meeting
Thank You / Questions Dr. Julia Coates Environmental Scientist, Marine Region