(To view new regulations click here)
How You Can Help: Become a member of CARF by clicking here!
So what's next?
CARF's presentation included an economic analysis showing that very few of California's 4,000 lakes/reservoirs or 20,000 some ponds (including golf ponds, Koi ponds, etc.) would have been exempt from these regulations. This would have cost California thousands of jobs and the loss of many fishing opportunities for millions of outdoor enthusiasts, which a bipartisan coalition of California State Legislators recognized as a real problem.
However, as fishermen, stakeholders, and outdoor enthusiasts, we must stay strong because it would not be a surprise if the DFG tries to bring this back in a different form sometime in the near future.
Commissioner Dan Richards made it clear that the Commission will not make the hatchery and fisheries groups go through the kind of permitting process the DFG sought in this round.
Further he said, "The statute is the statute, and only the Legislature can change that,” adding that it’s up to the DFG to go to the Legislature to change the statute regarding the permitting process.
We urge you to read the analysis and share it with others. We need to continue to grow our coalition for if and when this might come back, and support Pacific Legal Foundation's lawsuit against the Department of Fish and Game, so that never again can a State department circumvent the State Legislature to implement regulations through an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). This is simply unlawful and it would set a dangerous precedent.
The other big positive that came out of this was that we learned that together we can make a difference. Our voice was loud and clear, and it well received by the Commission. Moreover, the Department’s ability to try and pull off another "fast one” in the future has been greatly hampered.
Click to read the economic analysis and presentation.
See Related Articles and Opinions
- San Diego Tribune: Fish and Game Commission to rule on fish stocking changes
- San Diego Tribune: Commission rejects DFG regulation changes for California fish stocking
- Senator Harmon Op-Ed
- Inland Empire Legislators Op-Ed
Thank you!
We would like to extend a special thanks to the thousands of supporters who wrote letters and those who attended the hearing. Our coalition was
one of the most diverse coalitions of interests to appear before the
Commission in some time. Through this process we have all come to
appreciate how much Californians depend on fresh water fish for
recreation and food — and jobs!
