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December 26, 2002
DFG Warns Divers that the Deadline Looms for Return of Abalone Punch Cards
Contact: Troy Swauger, DFG Information Officer, (916) 654-2096
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is reminding all recreational abalone divers that sport fishing regulations designate that they have until Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, to return their 2002 abalone punch (report) cards. The sport-fishing season for recreational red abalone closed on Nov. 30, 2002. Abalone report cards must be returned to the DFG within 30 days of the close of the season.
Abalone report card holders must return the report cards to: Department of Fish and Game, 19160 South Harbor Dr., Fort Bragg, CA 94537.
Sport diving for abalone is limited to red abalone which may only be taken north of a line drawn due west of center of the mouth of San Francisco Bay; no abalone may be taken, landed, or possessed if landed south of this line. In Dec. 2001, the Fish and Game Commission approved sport fishing regulations that set a 24 abalone take per year limit with a three abalone per day maximum. Additionally, no more than three abalone may be possessed at any time. All abalone taken must be seven inches or greater, measured along the longest shell diameter, to be legal. For additional information on California's abalone fishery, log on to DFG's web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/abinfo.html.
The new regulations for California's recreational abalone fishery were especially warranted due to the decline in abalone numbers worldwide as a result of over fishing, disease and other causes. Over the last three years, DFG has required divers to turn in abalone report cards to more effectively manage the fishery. However, the new 2002 Sport Fishing Regulations established the specified due date for the return of the report cards. According to DFG's abalone report card database, nearly 80 percent of report cards from 2001 were not returned, putting approximately 32,000 people in violation.
Red abalone can only be taken by sport divers along California's north coast for personal consumption. Abalone may be taken during the months of April, May, June, August, September, October, and November from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
DFG Warns Divers that the Deadline Looms for Return of Abalone Punch Cards
Contact: Troy Swauger, DFG Information Officer, (916) 654-2096
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is reminding all recreational abalone divers that sport fishing regulations designate that they have until Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, to return their 2002 abalone punch (report) cards. The sport-fishing season for recreational red abalone closed on Nov. 30, 2002. Abalone report cards must be returned to the DFG within 30 days of the close of the season.
Abalone report card holders must return the report cards to: Department of Fish and Game, 19160 South Harbor Dr., Fort Bragg, CA 94537.
Sport diving for abalone is limited to red abalone which may only be taken north of a line drawn due west of center of the mouth of San Francisco Bay; no abalone may be taken, landed, or possessed if landed south of this line. In Dec. 2001, the Fish and Game Commission approved sport fishing regulations that set a 24 abalone take per year limit with a three abalone per day maximum. Additionally, no more than three abalone may be possessed at any time. All abalone taken must be seven inches or greater, measured along the longest shell diameter, to be legal. For additional information on California's abalone fishery, log on to DFG's web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/abinfo.html.
The new regulations for California's recreational abalone fishery were especially warranted due to the decline in abalone numbers worldwide as a result of over fishing, disease and other causes. Over the last three years, DFG has required divers to turn in abalone report cards to more effectively manage the fishery. However, the new 2002 Sport Fishing Regulations established the specified due date for the return of the report cards. According to DFG's abalone report card database, nearly 80 percent of report cards from 2001 were not returned, putting approximately 32,000 people in violation.
Red abalone can only be taken by sport divers along California's north coast for personal consumption. Abalone may be taken during the months of April, May, June, August, September, October, and November from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
