BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2615
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 28, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2615 (Chesbro) - As Amended: April 6, 2010
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 9-3
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill encourages the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to give
priority for OPC assistance to specified fishing related
activities. Specifically, this bill:
1)States legislative intent that OPC give priority for
assistance to:
a) Marketing and certification of California sustainable
seafood and promotion of seasonal locally caught seafood.
b) Establishment of fishery marketing commissions or
councils.
c) Establishment of community fishing associations under
federal limited access privilege program.
d) Development of fishing gear that minimizes bycatch.
e) Development of hook and line fishing gear that can be
operated without negatively affecting species of concern
within the federal Rockfish Conservation Zone and other
closed federal fishing zones.
f) Programs to minimize loss of fishing gear.
g) Collaborative, cooperative programs involving fishing
men and women and their vessels for research, stock
assessments and data collection related to Marine Protected
Areas.
h) Additional priorities established by the OPC, in
consultation with the Department of Fish and Game (DFG),
the Fish and Game Commission (FGC), and fishing fleet
representatives, to improve the state's commercial and
recreational fisheries.
2)Requires OPC to invite tribal representatives to participate
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in consultations and to coordinate if a tribal fishery may be
affected.
3)Defines "small boat" for purposes of the California Ocean
Protection Act to mean a commercial vessel of 52 feet or less
in length.
FISCAL EFFECT
1) Minor direct costs, if any.
2) Cost pressures of an unknown amount (bond funds). This
is because, although existing law authorizes OPC undertake
the activities described by this bill, the bill would
require OPC to prioritize those activities. The effect
might be to deemphasize other activities that OPC would
otherwise assist, thereby creating pressure to secure
additional funds to assist those latter activities.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The author indicates the purpose of this bill is
to set priorities for the OPC following passage of AB 1217 on
certification of California sustainable seafood, and to
identify a segment of the sustainable fishing fleet, in
particular small boats, that may be treated differently due to
their lower environmental impact.
2)Background .
a) Ocean Protection Council. OPC is composed of the
Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency, the Secretary
for Environmental Protection, the Chair of the State Lands
Commission, and two public members appointed by the
governor. Existing law directs OPC to coordinate
activities of state agencies related to protection and
conservation of coastal waters and ocean ecosystems, and to
improve the effectiveness of the state's efforts to protect
ocean resources.
b) Ocean Protection Trust Fund. OPC projects are funded
from the Ocean Protection Trust Fund (OPTF). Priority
projects include development of scientific data needed to
adaptively manage the state's marine resources and
reserves, including the development of marine habitat maps,
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the development and implementation of projects to foster
sustainable fisheries using loans and grants, and the
development and implementation of projects to conserve
marine wildlife. Funds in OPTF are mainly bond proceeds.
The types of projects this bill would prioritize are
generally within the authority of OPC and would be
authorized expenditures from the Ocean Protection Trust
Fund, but may not currently be given highest priority by
OPC.
3)Related Legislation. AB 1217, Monning (Chapter 279, Statutes
of 2009) requires the OPC to establish a voluntary program to
assist California fisheries in becoming certified for
sustainable seafood based on internationally accepted
standards adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations. The program includes development of a
protocol, adopted through a public process, to guide entities
in becoming certified, a market assistance program, and a
competitive grant and loan program to assist fishing entities
in qualifying for certification. The program also includes
development of a label to identify and market seafood caught
in California that is sustainably certified to internationally
accepted standards.
4)Support. This bill is supported by Pacific Coast Federation
of Fishermen's Associations.
5)There is no registered opposition to this bill .
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081