THE OPINION OF THE CHIEF LOBBYIST FOR COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN IN CALIFORNIA ON THE STATE OF ROCKFISH IN CALIFORNIA:

Interview between Glen Martin, Chronicle Staff writer and Zeke Grader— head of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations:
Q (Glen Martin): Can I give you a little quiz here? Rate these fisheries one to five—one being they're in terrible trouble, five indicating they're doing fine. First, rockfish.

A (Zeke Grader): "Probably a two."

©1997 San Francisco Chronicle Sunday, May 4, 1997 ·

This assessment, as honest as you will get from a Commercial fishing lobbyist, is four years old. Since then, California Rockfish have been subject to intense fishing pressure consequent to the demand generated by the live fish market and while Zeke Grader might not want to admit it,

ROCKFISH SHOULD NOW BE RATED "ONE" AND CLOSED IMMEDIATELY ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS TO FURTHER COMMERCIAL HARVEST!