BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1776
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Date of Hearing: April 10, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE
Jared Huffman, Chair
AB 1776 (Fong) - As Amended: 3/22/2012
SUBJECT : Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtles: State Marine Reptile
SUMMARY : Designates the Pacific leatherback sea turtle
(Dermochelys coriacea) as the official state marine reptile and
establishes October 15 as Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle
Conservation Day. Specifically, this bill :
1)Makes legislative findings regarding the uniqueness of the
Pacific leatherback turtles, their endangered status and
population decline to the verge of extinction, and the
designation of over 16,000 square miles of California coastal
waters as critical habitat to protect high-use foraging areas.
2)Declares the Pacific leatherback sea turtle as the official
state marine reptile, and makes the following changes:
a. Designates October 15, in perpetuity, as the Pacific
Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation Day.
b. Encourages California public schools to add information
about Pacific leatherback sea turtles into curriculum to
raise awareness.
c. Encourages state and federal agencies, nongovernmental
agencies, fishers, coastal tour operators and other
interested stakeholders to participate in statewide,
voluntary recordings of sightings of Pacific leatherback
sea turtles.
d. Encourages state and federal agencies to build
cooperative relationships with island nations where Pacific
leatherback sea turtles nest in order to promote awareness
and conservation.
e. Urges state and federal agencies to take proactive
conservation measures to prevent future threats to Pacific
leatherback sea turtles and their habitat.
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EXISTING LAW :
1)Since 1970, lists the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle as
endangered, under the federal endangered species act.
2)Bans, effective January 1, 1990, all longline fishing in the
Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nautical miles seaward from the
coast) to prevent deaths of sea turtles.
3)AJR 62 (Leno), Resolution Chapter 100 of 2008 made legislative
findings acknowledging the decline of west coast sea turtles
and supporting efforts to preserve and recover Pacific
leatherback populations.
4)Names the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) as the state
reptile
5)There is no designated category for state marine reptile.
FISCAL EFFECT : unknown
COMMENTS : There are 4 types of marine reptiles including sea
turtles, water snakes, alligators, and crocodiles. Of those,
California waters are only inhabited by 1 species of water snake
and 7 species of sea turtles. The yellow-bellied sea snake is
one of the most common sea snakes and is found from southern
California to Northern South America. The 7 species of sea
turtles include Green, Kemps ridley, Olive ridley, Hawksbill,
Leatherback, Flatback, and Loggerhead.
Of the sea turtles, the leatherback is unique in that it has
existed virtually unchanged for the past 150 million years; is
the largest known reptile, averaging 6 - 7 feet and 550 - 1500
pounds; and migrates 6000 miles from the nesting beaches in
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands to forage on
jellyfish off the coast of California. This is the longest known
migration of any reptile species.
The California coast is one of the most important feeding areas
AB 1776
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in the world for the Pacific leatherback sea turtles and these
sea turtles are beneficial to the marine ecosystem. They can eat
their weight in jellyfish thus helping keep the jellyfish
population under control. Jellyfish prey on fish eggs and if
their populations went unchecked, valuable fish populations
along the California coast might be endangered.
The Pacific leatherback sea turtle population has declined 90%
in the past 25 years. The major threats to survival include egg
harvesting for human consumption, certain fishing practices
(including longline and coastal gill netting), habitat loss,
pollution, and climate change.
The Pacific leatherback sea turtle has been on the endangered
species list since 1970. On February 26, 2012, the National
Marine Fisheries Service designated 16,910 square miles of the
California coastal waters from Point Arena in Mendocino County
to Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County, as critical habitat
for the Pacific leatherback sea turtle. This is part of a
worldwide effort to raise awareness, educate, and preserve this
species.
Supporting Comments: The Author states that "The people of
California have to do their part in solving this problem �of
declining populations]. A way to acknowledge the species'
importance to California and the danger the turtles are facing
would be to designate the Pacific leatherback sea turtle as the
State Marine Reptile. By spreading awareness about the
leatherbacks and how to help them, this bill will preserve these
majestic creatures for the benefit of California's residents for
years to come."
Additional supporters state that because of their trans-Pacific
migration, the Pacific leatherback sea turtle can serve as an
international ambassador, ecologically connecting Asia and
California. Many educational materials have already been created
and are available for public use.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
AB 1776
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Turtle Island Restoration Network (Sponsor)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL-CIO
Aquarium of the Bay
Asian Pacific American Ocean Harmony Alliance
Audubon California
Azul
California Coastkeeper Alliance
Center of Biological Diversity
Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education
Clean Oceans Project
Earth Resource Foundation
Environment California
Food and Water Watch
Friends of the Sea Otter
Humane Society of the United States
Maritime Museum of San Diego
Monterey Bay Aquarium
O'Neil Sea Odyssey
Ocean Institute
Oceana
Ocean Conservation Society
San Francisco Commission on the Environment
Save Our Shores
Save the Turtles
Sierra Club California
Numerous individuals
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Mandy Arens / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096