BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2684
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 30, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2684 (Stone) - As Amended: March 27, 2014
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 10-5
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to
implement policies and practices for hatchery chinook salmon,
coho salmon, and steelhead reared or released in California
waters. Specifically, this bill requires DFW to:
1)Adopt hatchery practices that improve the survival and fitness
of the hatchery population.
2)Adopt hatchery practices that reduce the genetic and
ecological risks posed by hatchery juveniles and adults to
wild and native populations.
3)Require hatchery chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead
released in California waters to be externally marked on the
top fin and coded-wire tagged prior to their release.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Significant initial costs, in the $20 million range, for
equipment and staff to conduct tagging and tag recovery on all
hatchery salmon.
2)Significant ongoing costs in the range of $10 to $15 million.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose. According to the author, the dual goals of
conservation and commercial harvest have yet to be achieved
due to the lack of data and the inability to distinguish wild
fish from hatchery fish. Wild salmon in California have
AB 2684
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declined from being some of the largest salmon runs in North
America to reductions resulting in the listing of some runs as
endangered species. The author asserts this bill will provide
needed scientific data to benefit both salmon fisheries and
the conservation of wild and native fish.
2)Background. DFW operates fish hatcheries throughout the
state to mitigate habitat loss associated with major
reservoirs and water diversions. Coded-wire tags contain
microscopic data that can be detected electronically, allowing
the real-time identification and travel path of
hatchery-origin fish. Current hatchery tagging operations
code-wire tag a subset of hatchery-origin salmon, but the
usefulness of the data is limited by the size of the sample.
3)California Hatchery Review Report. In 2012, the California
Hatchery Scientific Review Group, comprised of state and
federal fishery agencies and University scientists, released a
comprehensive review of the health of hatchery and wild salmon
populations, including recommendations to evaluate the effect
of hatchery operations on wild runs.
The report includes recommendations for statewide hatchery
standards and guidelines as well as specific management
practices for each of the nineteen hatcheries currently
operating in the Klamath-Trinity basin and the central valley.
The report recommends marking and tagging requirements
consistent with this bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081