Rockfish Reg. Petition Workgroup - Need your help

Most of you are aware of the significant reduction of shallow water rockfishing season in 2013, and unless we take this new regulation will stay permanently.  I had several discussions with a CDFW staff and a Groundfish Advisory Subpanel member of the Pacific Fishery Management Council, and they recommended petitioning the California Fishing and Game Commission for a change.

I have the following petition options, but I want a more in-depth study before finalizing the petition:

Option 1: Reduce the daily bag limit to 50% of the current limit and require to carry a descending device.  (Similar to section 28.65.(d) landing net requirements) 5 fish in combination per person, except Vermilion rockfish: 2 fish per person, Quillback rockfish: 0 fish per person, Copper rockfish: 1 fish per person.  Lingcod 1 fish per person.  Prior to the 2012 Season Rockfishing Calendar.

Option 2: Non-motorized vessels are allowed in all Depth with a 50% reduction in the daily limit, as shown in Option 1.  2013 Season Rockfishing Calendar.

I want to work with other volunteers to review other states’ regulations, petition processes, and prior petitions before drafting a petition.  The draft petition will be posted on the NCKA website for comments and finalized.  I have attached a flowchart to show potential process.

Submitting a Petition for Regulation Change to the California Fishing and Game Commission: https://fgc.ca.gov/Regulations/Petition-for-Regulation-Change#:~:text=Submitting%20a%20Petition%20for%20Regulation%20Change&text=Please%20complete%20the%20form%20and,%2C%20Sacramento%2C%20CA%2094244%2D2090

If you want to join the petition workgroup, please PM or post a reply here.

Thank you.

Paul

Great idea!  Thanks for organizing this petition Paul.

Paul,
If im not too late I would like to join the petition in support for option two.

Aloha,

Isao

Thank you for your supports.  It is not too late at all.  I have not started any petition research and looking for other people to do it together.
My petition options are just brainstorming stage and we will modify them after in-depth study and as a part of drafting petition.

Paul

I generally support this idea BUT I would prefer to see all sub-bag limits remain as they are now, with the only change applying to the total rockfish (Sebastes) bag limit. 5 rockfish per day sounds fine to me.

I would like to see the lingcod daily bag limit remain at 2 (two).

I would like to see the lingcod daily bag limit remain at 2 (two).

+1 Why propose to reduce lingcod limit when they are not the reason why our season was shortened?

I hope we stay on the high level. 
We have plenty of time later to discuss sub-bag limits and specific language for the petition.

I am just searching for volunteers to participate and lead the petition process.

Paul

I hope we stay on the high level. 
We have plenty of time later to discuss sub-bag limits and specific language for the petition.

I am just searching for volunteers to participate and lead the petition process.

Paul

I brought up the lingcod bag limit because you suggested we change it.

Alastair

I'm in. What do I do?

Submitting a petition to the commission is a pretty easy/lightweight process. People submit petitions for all kinds of dumb stuff all the time (not saying your petition is dumb, just that any yahoo can and does submit all kinds of far-fetched shit practically monthly). You don't need any signatures. Just be succinct and point to a specific existing regulation with the change you want verbatim. Maybe you could get them to expand the shore/diver exemption to non-motorized craft or something like that. Surely divers kill more preggo lingcod and ancient rockfish than anyone.

Essentially what will happen is the commission will refer the proposal to the Department of Fish and Wildlife staff, and some biologist/law enforcement/other staff will look into how feasible the change is and recommend that the commission either grant or deny the petition. There is opportunity for public comment (e.g. everyone comes on and says it's a DEI issue since current regs shut out a lot of non-boat owners for much of the state for much of the year) but I don't think that carries much weight in reality--the commission will go with the department staff recommendation.

I'm in. What do I do?

Hi Moo

Thank you for your support. 
I want to wait until July 4th see how many people want to join the workgroup.
After that we can figure out what would be our next step.
I am estimating that workgroup members to donate 2 to 4 hours per weeks for 5-10 weeks, just an estimate.
I understand  that the petition could be a simple process but I want make sure we do supporting research to develop the best petition.

Paul

Submitting a petition to the commission is a pretty easy/lightweight process. People submit petitions for all kinds of dumb stuff all the time (not saying your petition is dumb, just that any yahoo can and does submit all kinds of far-fetched shit practically monthly). You don't need any signatures. Just be succinct and point to a specific existing regulation with the change you want verbatim. Maybe you could get them to expand the shore/diver exemption to non-motorized craft or something like that. Surely divers kill more preggo lingcod and ancient rockfish than anyone.

Essentially what will happen is the commission will refer the proposal to the Department of Fish and Wildlife staff, and some biologist/law enforcement/other staff will look into how feasible the change is and recommend that the commission either grant or deny the petition. There is opportunity for public comment (e.g. everyone comes on and says it's a DEI issue since current regs shut out a lot of non-boat owners for much of the state for much of the year) but I don't think that carries much weight in reality--the commission will go with the department staff recommendation.

Hi Rick

Thank you for you detail petition information and suggestions.
After research, discussions, and developing petition options, we might vote on the options to pick the best choice.    We will develop more concrete process as we proceed.

Paul

Can we try AI to see what its "proposal"  look like and use it as a template?

Can we try AI to see what its "proposal"  look like and use it as a template?

Good suggestion but I don't think AI has the 2013 regulation information.

With rockfish the possession limit, including frozen, is the daily bag limit. If reducing the daily bag limit to 5, the possession limit should double - similar to inland trout and salmon.