Posted by . on April 14, 2004 at 21:36:18:
The Fish and Game Commission will consider a Department of Fish and Game recommendation to change the sportfishing rules for black rockfish in an April 22 teleconference meeting.
The emergency rules to be considered, made to follow federal guidelines dictated by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, will prohibit the retention of black rockfish, cabezon, greenlings, ocean whitefish and sheephead in the month of May and allow the take of the fish in waters less than 30 fathoms (180 feet) in September and October from Point Concepcion to the Mexican border. The Cowcod Conservation Areas will remain the same for the region.
Federal regulators have split the Central Rockfish and Lingcod Management Area near Point Lopez. From Point Concepcion to Lopez Point, there will no take of black rockfish in July, and the fish taken from September to the end of the year must be in waters 20 fathoms (120 feet) or less. From Point Lopez to Point Concepcion, there is no take of the fish from May through July and November and December. The depth limit in September and October is 20 fathoms.
From Cape Mendocino to the Oregon border, the take is waters less than 30 fathoms from May through December.
A final Department of Fish and Game Abalone Recovery Management Plan public meeting will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Santa Rose Rincon Valley Regional Library, 6959 Montecito Blvd.
An overview of the plan will be presented and the Fish and Game Commission will receive public input. The DFG incorporated the plan in 2003 with input from a series of informal public workshops. The plan aims to assist and monitor the recovery of depleted abalone stocks in Southern and Central California.
The plan is available to the Web site www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/abalone.html and on DFG offices, including in Lakewood and Chino Hills. Written comments can be mailed to the DFG, Abalone Recovery and Management Plan, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, 95814. They must include a full name and address to be considered.