BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    





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          |                                                                 |
          |         SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER         |
          |                   Senator Fran Pavley, Chair                    |
          |                    2009-2010 Regular Session                    |
          |                                                                 |
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          BILL NO: AB 825                    HEARING DATE: June 23, 2009  
          AUTHOR: Blakeslee                  URGENCY: No  
          VERSION: May 4, 2009               CONSULTANT: Bill Craven   
          DUAL REFERRAL: No                  FISCAL: Yes  
          SUBJECT: Crab traps.  
          
          BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
          Section 9011 (a) (3) of the Fish and Game Code requires that  
          rock crabs that are taken with a Dungeness crab trap--and any  
          Dungeness crab taken with a rock crab trap--are to be  
          immediately returned to the waters from which it was taken.   
          That provision also prohibits any person from possessing a rock  
          crab aboard a vessel when the vessel is being used to take  
          Dungeness crab,  
          and from possessing a Dungeness crab aboard a vessel when the  
          vessel is being used to take rock crab. Other provisions of the  
          Fish and Game Code establish seasons for Dungeness crab and  
          impose restrictions based on size and sex and the features and  
          size of crab traps. Rock crabs may be taken year-round. 

          PROPOSED LAW
          This bill allows the incidental take of rock crab with Dungeness  
          crab traps, and vice versa, provided that the crab taken  
          incidentally is taken in season and in compliance with all other  
           applicable law and regulations, and repeals the prohibition on  
          possession of both species aboard the same vessel at the same  
          time.

          ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT
          According to the author, this proposed change would allow the  
          fishing community in areas where Dungeness crab are less  
          plentiful (mainly the central coast) to be able to retain legal  
          crabs of either variety that are caught incidentally in any crab  
          trap. 

          Other supporters have indicated that the bill will help  
          fishermen whose commercial operations have suffered economic  
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          losses in recent years. 

          ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION
          None received
               
          SUPPORT
          City of Monterey, Harbor/Marina Division
          Port San Luis Harbor District
          San Mateo County Harbor District
          City of Morro Bay
          Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen's Organization 
          California Fisheries and Seafood Institute 
          OPPOSITION
          None Received

































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