Department of Fish and Game To Hold Nearshore Fishery Management Plan Meetings
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME Contact: Christine Pattison, Marine Region, (805) 772-0114 The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has scheduled a public meeting and a meeting of the Advisory Committee to discuss management options for the Nearshore Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for California's nearshore marine fishes. The public is encouraged to participate in a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 3, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., in the Auditorium of the Elihu Harris State Building, 1515 Clay Street, Oakland. At this meeting, members of the public will have the opportunity to voice their comments concerning potential management options for nearshore finfish species. "We are seeking input from the public and various constituent groups who have an interest in how the state's nearshore fishery is managed. This is an important opportunity to assist in the development of the Nearshore Fishery Management Plan," said Patricia Wolf, regional manager for DFG's Marine Region. The Nearshore Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30 in Menlo Park and is open to the public. The Committee will focus on the potential Nearshore FMP management options. The Nearshore Advisory Committee was established to provide the DFG with advice, feedback and recommendations regarding the development of the Nearshore FMP. The Committee is composed of appointed representatives from recreational anglers and divers, environmentalists, the nearshore fishing industry, the commercial passenger fishing vessel industry and academia. Under the Marine Life Management Act of 1998, the California Fish and Game Commission must adopt the Nearshore FMP by 2002. The Commission is responsible for regulating commercial and recreational nearshore fisheries to assure sustainable populations of nearshore stocks. Citizens who cannot attend the public meeting can send written comments by April 6, 2001 to the Department of Fish and Game, Attention: Rob Collins, 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, #100, Monterey, CA 93940. For meeting materials for the April 3 public meeting, please contact Maura Leos at (831) 649-2829, (831) 649-2917 facsimile, or mleos@dfg.ca.gov. |