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DFG News Release: For Immediate Release
January 21, 2003
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Commission Receives New Plan for California's Abalone Resource
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Contact: Carrie Wilson, Marine Region, (831) 649-7191; Fred Wendell, Marine Region, (805) 772-1714
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The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) this month forwarded the state's draft Abalone Recovery and Management Plan (ARMP) to the Fish and Game Commission for its final adoption process. DFG is encouraging the public to review the current draft and to provide written comments directly to the Commission.
The current draft plan is available for public review on DFG's web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/abalone.html. Printed copies of the draft plan will be available by Tuesday, Jan. 21, at DFG's regional offices. Written comments on the ARMP may be mailed to the California Fish and Game Commission, Abalone Recovery and Management Plan, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA 95814.
The ARMP aims to assist in and monitor the recovery of depleted abalone stocks in central and southern California, while continuing to closely manage the sport fishery for red abalone in the northern region of the state.
"The plan makes it clear that abalone harvesting in southern California is unlikely to occur for many years, until stocks recover," said Fred Wendell, DFG senior marine manager.
An entire chapter of the ARMP is devoted to proposed recovery efforts, and the criteria for evaluating recovery of this once plentiful species in central and southern California. As a result of its depleted state in those areas, the current moratorium on the harvest of abalone south of San Francisco - first imposed in 1997 - will continue under the ARMP. California's northern red abalone sport fishery, however, will be closely managed for continued sustainability under the new ARMP.
Prior to the first draft of the ARMP, DFG held a commercial constituent workshop and two advisory committee meetings to assist in the initial development of the document. Following the completion of the draft, the document was reviewed by a panel of marine scientists (peer review), in addition to an informal public comment period where two town hall meetings were held. The draft ARMP was modified and improved based on the comments received during the peer and public review process.
During the ARMP adoption process, the Commission will be the lead agency for all ARMP-related activities. DFG will present the plan to the Commission at its meeting Feb. 6 in Sacramento. At that time, the Commission will determine a schedule for any future public input meetings.
For additional information on how the public may provide comments, the Commission meeting schedule, and other abalone-specific information, check out DFG's web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/abalone.html. For information on the status of the ARMP, contact the Abalone Constituent Coordinator Diana Watters at (650) 631-2535 or dwatters@dfg.ca.gov.
January 21, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commission Receives New Plan for California's Abalone Resource
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact: Carrie Wilson, Marine Region, (831) 649-7191; Fred Wendell, Marine Region, (805) 772-1714
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) this month forwarded the state's draft Abalone Recovery and Management Plan (ARMP) to the Fish and Game Commission for its final adoption process. DFG is encouraging the public to review the current draft and to provide written comments directly to the Commission.
The current draft plan is available for public review on DFG's web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/abalone.html. Printed copies of the draft plan will be available by Tuesday, Jan. 21, at DFG's regional offices. Written comments on the ARMP may be mailed to the California Fish and Game Commission, Abalone Recovery and Management Plan, 1416 Ninth St., Sacramento, CA 95814.
The ARMP aims to assist in and monitor the recovery of depleted abalone stocks in central and southern California, while continuing to closely manage the sport fishery for red abalone in the northern region of the state.
"The plan makes it clear that abalone harvesting in southern California is unlikely to occur for many years, until stocks recover," said Fred Wendell, DFG senior marine manager.
An entire chapter of the ARMP is devoted to proposed recovery efforts, and the criteria for evaluating recovery of this once plentiful species in central and southern California. As a result of its depleted state in those areas, the current moratorium on the harvest of abalone south of San Francisco - first imposed in 1997 - will continue under the ARMP. California's northern red abalone sport fishery, however, will be closely managed for continued sustainability under the new ARMP.
Prior to the first draft of the ARMP, DFG held a commercial constituent workshop and two advisory committee meetings to assist in the initial development of the document. Following the completion of the draft, the document was reviewed by a panel of marine scientists (peer review), in addition to an informal public comment period where two town hall meetings were held. The draft ARMP was modified and improved based on the comments received during the peer and public review process.
During the ARMP adoption process, the Commission will be the lead agency for all ARMP-related activities. DFG will present the plan to the Commission at its meeting Feb. 6 in Sacramento. At that time, the Commission will determine a schedule for any future public input meetings.
For additional information on how the public may provide comments, the Commission meeting schedule, and other abalone-specific information, check out DFG's web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/abalone.html. For information on the status of the ARMP, contact the Abalone Constituent Coordinator Diana Watters at (650) 631-2535 or dwatters@dfg.ca.gov.
