Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Standardized Commercial Trap Marking Program (amend sections 122.1, 125, 126.1, 180.1, & 180.5, Title 14, CCR)
June 21, 2019
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) has published the Notice of Proposed Action to amend sections 122.1, 125, 126.1, 180.1, & 180.5 to Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR), implementing a standardized system of marking commercial trap gear required by Senate Bill 1309 (SB 1309; Fisheries Omnibus Bill of 2018, McGuire) and changes to Section 9005 of the Fish and Game Code (FGC).
The goal of the proposed “Standardized Commercial Trap Marking Program” (Marking Program) is to establish a standardized framework for marking commercial fishing gear to better identify the commercial trap fisheries involved in marine life entanglement events. Identifying the trap fishery gear involved in marine life entanglements would allow the State to direct resources to those fisheries with the greatest contribution to entanglement. The proposed Marking Program would improve and expand upon existing buoy markings required by regulation and statute, affecting six commercial trap fisheries: Spiny Lobster, Rock Crab, Tanner Crab, Spot Prawn, Coonstripe Shrimp, and Nearshore Finfish (e.g., California Sheephead, Cabezon).
In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, the proposed rulemaking was noticed in the California Regulatory Notice Register, and the 45-day public comment period begins June 21, 2019. The Department will receive written and oral comments at a public hearing scheduled at the following wheelchair accessible location:
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Department Monterey Office, Large Conference Room,
20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100, Monterey, CA, 93940
Any interested person, or his or her authorized representative, may submit written comments on the proposed action to the Department. All written comments must be received by the Department via mail, or e-mail, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, to the contact as follows:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Regulations Unit
Attn: Ona Alminas, Sr. Environmental Scientist
1416 9th Street, Room 1342-A
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email: Regulations@wildlife.ca.gov