Amended in Assembly March 27, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2684

Introduced by Assembly Member Stone

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Cooley and Fong)

(Coauthor: Senator Evans)

February 21, 2014

An act to add Section 1120.5 to the Fish and Game Code, relating to fish.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2684, as amended, Stone. Hatchery practices: begin delete salmonids. end delete begin insert salmon and steelhead end insert begin insert . end insert

Existing law requires the Fish and Game Commission to establish fish hatcheries for stocking the waters of California with fish and requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to maintain and operate such hatcheries. Existing law also authorizes county boards of supervisors to establish and maintain fish hatcheries and authorizes the commission to issue permits to nonprofit organizations to construct and operate anadromous fish hatcheries.

This bill would require the department to implement specified policies and practices for hatchery begin delete salmonids end delete begin insert chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead end insert reared or released in California waters, including a requirement that hatchery begin delete salmon end delete begin insert chinook salmon, coho salmon, end insert and steelhead released in California waters be externally marked on the top fin at a level to be determined by the department and that all hatchery begin delete salmonids end delete begin insert chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead end insert be coded-wire tagged prior to their release.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 1120.5 is added to the Fish and Game
Code, to read:

1120.5.  

The department shall implement policies and practices
for hatchery begin delete salmonids end delete begin insert chinook salmon, coho salmon, and
steelhead end insert reared or released in California waters by adopting all
of the following:

(a) Hatchery practices that improve the survival and fitness of
the hatchery population.

(b) Hatchery practices that reduce the genetic and ecological
risks posed by hatchery juveniles and adults to wild and native
populations.

(c) A requirement that hatchery begin delete salmon end delete begin insert chinook salmon, coho
salmon, end insert and steelhead released in California waters be externally
marked on the top fin at a level to be determined by the department
and that all hatchery begin delete salmonids end delete begin insert chinook salmon, coho salmon, and
steelhead end insert be coded-wire tagged prior to their release.