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2005 Sport Fishing Regulations Supplement Now Available Online

Marine Management News

Commercial Greenlings Fishery Season Set to Close Aug. 1, 2005

The commercial fishery for greenlings (genus Hexagrammos) will close Aug. 1, 2005 at 12:01 a.m., the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced.

The DFG will close the fishery based upon projections from recent landing receipts and dockside tabulation efforts indicating the annual commercial allocation will soon be reached. It is expected that by Aug. 1, the annual commercial allocation of 3,400 pounds of greenling (kelp and rock greenling combined) will be taken for the 2005 calendar year.

Greenlings (both kelp and rock greenling) are nearshore species of fish found mostly in California’s northern and central coastal areas.

The latest estimates from the DFG indicate approximately 3,000 pounds of commercial greenlings have been landed by mid-July 2005. Historically, catch rates increase throughout the summer. Consequently, the DFG is estimating the commercial allocation will be reached in full by Aug. 1.

In May 2002, the Fish and Game Commission adopted regulations providing DFG the authority to close either or both the recreational and commercial sectors of the sheephead, greenling, and cabezon fisheries when their allowable harvest levels are projected to be reached.

Beginning in 2004, two month cumulative trip limits went into effect for the commercial California sheephead, greenling, and cabezon fisheries in an effort to sustain those fisheries throughout the year. The greenling fishery has a two month cumulative trip limit of 25 pounds per nearshore fishery permit holder when fishing is permitted.

Should commercial greenling catches fall substantially below the defined allowable harvest levels, DFG may evaluate the potential of reopening the fishery for a specified time later in the year.
Ready for salmon season? Got your 2005 Ocean Fishing Regulations booklet in hand? Not so fast! If you haven't read the Regulations Supplement booklet, now available on the Departments Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/oceanfish2005supp.pdf , you may not be as ready as you think!

For more information about groundfish regulations, go to www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/bfregs2005.html

Contact: Ed Roberts, Marine Biologist, (562) 342-7199

Reminder: Special Commission Meetings to Solicit Public Comments in August

Constituents are reminded that five additional special meetings were scheduled for the California Fish and Game Commission to receive public comments on the Marine Life Protection Act's (MLPA) draft Master Plan Framework and the draft Abalone Recovery and Management Plan (ARMP). Written comments on both documents can also be submitted to the Commission office, 1416 Ninth St., Room 1320, Sacramento, CA 95814.

The remaining meeting dates and locations are as follows:

Aug. 4 - Redwood Empire Schools' Insurance Group (RESIG), San Andreas Rooms I & II, 5760 Skylane Boulevard, Suite 100, Windsor

Aug. 9 - Eureka Public Marina, Wharfinger Building, 1 Marina Way, Eureka

Aug. 16 - Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute, Shedd Auditorium, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego

During each meeting, the commission will receive public comments on the MLPA's draft Master Plan Framework from 3 to 5 p.m., and will receive public comments on the ARMP from 7 to 9 p.m., except in Eureka where the two items will be reversed.

The Commission will consider adoption of the two documents at its Aug. 18-19, 2005, meeting in San Luis Obispo. The Commission will consider the MLPA's draft Master Plan Framework on Aug. 18 and the ARMP on Aug. 19.

To review a copy of the MLPA draft Master Plan Framework, go to www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/mlpa/draftdocuments.html.

To review a copy of the draft ARMP, go to http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/armp/index.html.