The Future??
Man, they’re coming at us from all sides. You’ve got Senator Dianne Feinstein’s attempts to gut Endangered Species protections on Delta fish to allow for more pumping of water south, lawsuits against the California Department of Fish & Game over trout planting and now this…
According to John Beuttler, Conservation Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, State Assembly member Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) has introduced AB 2336, which would remove gamefish status from striped bass and thus eliminate all regulations that govern the legal harvest of the fishery.
If this sounds very familiar…well…you’re right:
This bill is similar to the one the Fuller introduced last year that was defeated by a coalition of anglers who care about the fishery and that acted in concert with sportfishing and environmental groups lead by CSPA. That bill was killed in its first committee hearing because the false arguments used by the author significantly overstated the impact of striped bass predation. Scientific testimony provided during the hearing made it clear that striped bass rarely, if ever, eat Delta smelt and that predation on listed salmon is so low that it does not impact the population level of the listed salmon.
Yet, Fuller still alleges that declassifying stripers is necessary to reduce predation on federally protected salmon and Delta smelt. Funny thing is she represents the 32nd Assembly District, which includes Bakersfield, Ridgecrest, Tehachapi, Taft, Kern River Valley, and the Frazier Mountain communities…not exactly hot beds of salmon interest.
It won't be long before they gun for all the other non-natives in the Delta...bass, catfish, crappie, etc...
“This bill is different in that it calls for the elimination of ‘the program enhancement, expansion or improvement of the fishery,’” says Beuttler. “Ironically, such programs do not exist! It also requires that the Delta Stewardship Council to establish programs to discourage the promotion of the Bay-Delta striped bass as a sport fishery.”
It further requires the Stewardship Council to evaluate predator suppression options and make recommendations to remedy these problems.
“CSPA finds it absolutely arrogant that Fuller and her bill’s supporters would advocate the destruction of this valuable public resource again! Why should they be allowed to usurp the professional management and legal authority the government has given the Department of Fish & Game and the federal fishery agencies to protect listed species? The fishery agencies and their scientists know a great deal more about the striped bass fishery and the impacts it has on species of concern. They also understand and what it means for fisheries to co-exist in a dynamic estuarine ecosystem.”
How you can help
CSPA is calling on anglers and the public to help us make another legislative stand by raising your voice in opposition to this bill. In addition to the sending a letter or FAX to the committee that will hear the bill, please remember CSPA needs your financial support to continue their efforts to protect and restore California’s fishery resources. Send what you can afford to support these efforts by using Pay Pal or send your contributions to:
CSPA
6597 Cane Lane
Valley Springs, CA 95252
Send your letters to Jared Huffman, Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife (as addressed below), and be sure to copy your Assemblymember and specifically request they support your opposition to AB 2336 by letting this committee know of their opposition! The Committee Chairman is a strong supporter of the professional management of the public’s fish and wildlife resources, but we need a majority of the committee to oppose the bill.
Here’s a sample letter…be sure to put this in your own words. The Committee’s FAX number is 916-319-2126
Assemblymember Jared Huffman, Chair
Assembly Committee on Water, Parks & Wildlife
1020 N Street, Suite 160
Sacramento, CA 94249
Re: My Opposition to AB 2336 (Fuller) – Striped Bass Eradication
Chairman Huffman and Members of the Committee:
I am writing to express my complete opposition to AB 2336. I’m outraged over supporters of the bill who think they have a right to destroy the striped bass fishery owned by the public. This fishery has co-existed with all the fisheries in the Bay-Delta estuary for 130 years and it has collapsed right along with our salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and the other fish dependent on the estuary. Even in its degraded state it still manages to generate some $250 million annually to our state’s trouble economy.
The issues of striped bass predation should be left to the state and federal fishery agencies that are charged with managing the public’s fishery resources. These are the professionals and scientists who have the expertise know how best to manage our fishery resources.
It is time the Legislature sent a message that divisive bills such as this one will not be tolerated. Instead, the Legislature needs to focus on correcting the ecological crisis in the estuary that is destroying our fisheries, including the immense impacts of excessive water development and export out of the Delta.
I will greatly appreciate your efforts to help protect our priceless fishery heritage!
Sincerely,
Name
Address
