BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1093|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1093
Author: Wiggins (D)
Amended: 4/19/10
Vote: 21
SENATE NATURAL RES. & WATER COMMITTEE : 5-3, 4/13/10
AYES: Pavley, Kehoe, Lowenthal, Simitian, Wolk
NOES: Cogdill, Hollingsworth, Huff
NO VOTE RECORDED: Padilla
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 6-2, 5/10/10
AYES: Kehoe, Alquist, Leno, Price, Wolk, Yee
NOES: Cox, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Corbett, Denham, Walters
SUBJECT : Ocean Protection Council: Dungeness crab task
force
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill extends the sunset date for SB 1690
(Wiggins), Chapter 727, Statutes of 2008, which directs the
Ocean Protection Council to develop and administer a
Dungeness Crab Task Force, from January 1, 2011 to January
1, 2014.
ANALYSIS : The California Dungeness crab fishery is a
valuable state resource, approximately $24 million of crab
are landed annually, and is one of the most profitable
fisheries remaining in the state. However, the optimal
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long-term management strategy for the fishery is a
contentious issue due to the competing interests of the
multiple stakeholders.
In 2008, the Legislature passed SB 1690 which directed the
Ocean Protection Council, upon receipt of appropriate
funding, to make a grant to develop and administer a
Dungeness Crab Task Force. Task force membership,
representative of varied fishery interests, was specified
in the bill. The task force was required to address
certain issues of concern to the Dungeness crab fishery and
to report its recommendations for management of the fishery
to the legislature, the Department of Fish and Game and the
Fish and Game Commission by January 15, 2010. The current
sunset date for the bill's provisions, including
termination of the task force, is January 1, 2011.
This bill extends the sunset date for SB 1690 (Wiggins),
Chapter 727, Statutes of 2008, which directs the Ocean
Protection Council to develop and administer a Dungeness
Crab Task Force, from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2015.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, to date,
both the Ocean Protection Council and the Department of
Fish and Game have incurred costs to support the task
force's activities, including assigning staff to support
the task force and paying for meeting space and other
expenses of the task force. Staff estimates that both the
Department and the Council would incur some minor,
additional costs to continue to provide staff support to
the task force under the bill.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/12/10)
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
the arguments expressed originally for SB 1690 two years
ago remain true: "Given the complexity of the fishery and
its management structure, a comprehensive approach to
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effective management reform requires attention to the
short-term and longer-term institutions and process. An
advisory committee to work with the Department of Fish and
Game, and the Ocean Protection Council, on recommendations
to address problems in commercial crab fishing has garnered
a fragile compromise."
The task force has made considerable progress, but
specifically recognizes that much remains to be done,
particularly with regard to the proposed pilot program.
The task force "agrees that while not perfect, the task
force has provided a platform for the industry to
collaborate, and work with regulators and decision-makers
on Dungeness crab fishery management issues."
DLW:CTW:nl 5/12/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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