Full Fishing Closure?

I was reading on Coastside that the Fish and Game Commission will be considering a full closure in the near future. Apparently they are getting complaints about people potentially driving long distances for the trout opener. I have attached the letter from Coastside to the Commission.

 Coastal Conservation Association – California 13015 Abing Ave San Diego, CA 92129
VIA EMAIL: [email protected]
Mr. Eric Sklar, President
California Fish and Game Commission 1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1320 Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: Potential Closure of Recreational Fishing in California Dear President Sklar:
Coastside Fishing Club
P.O. Box 5501 San Mateo, CA 94402
April 2, 2020
American Sportfishing Association
1001 N. Fairfax St. Alexandria, VA 22314
 The Coastside Fishing Club and Coastal Conservation Association-California are the largest recreational fishing organizations in California. We focus on marine fisheries, but our members also take advantage of freshwater fishing opportunities in California. The American Sportfishing Association is the nation’s recreational fishing industry trade association. California’s two million recreational fishermen contribute $5.2 billion to the California’s economy, supporting 37,000 jobs.
We have learned that the Commission has been asked by the Department to consider emergency regulations to close recreational fishing in California. Any restrictions should be narrowly tailored as the least restrictive tool to address a genuine public safety issue. The duration should be limited. In no event should the Commission consider a statewide closure. That would be an action without parallel. Unlike the State of Washington, where Gov. Inslee ordered the temporary statewide closure of recreational fishing, Gov. Newsom has encouraged citizens to safely participate in recreational activities.
There is no hint in California of blanket restrictions on hiking, rock climbing, cycling, swimming in the state’s waters or any other recreational activities. There is nothing inherently unsafe in those forms of recreation, which can be practiced consistent with Gov. Newsom’s executive orders. The same is true for recreational fishing, which is often practiced individually or with r. Eric Sklar April 2, 2020 Page 2 of 2
close family members in the same household. Recreational fishing and the safety measures articulated by Gov. Newsom are not in conflict.
We understand the need for physical distancing, a requirement that isn’t limited to recreational fishing. We see no recreational activity targeted for blanket prohibitions. Why fishing? California State Parks, for example, has been working with county health agencies to tailor park access restrictions based on local circumstances. As capable as Fish and Game Commissioners may be, local health officials are more qualified to design access requirements and restrictions on recreational fisheries.
Even without action by the Commission, local agencies have taken aggressive steps to restrict recreational fishing. Launch ramps have closed. Commercial passenger fishing vessels are tied up. Beach and pier access is restricted. However, some recreational fishing opportunities remain and can be enjoyed safely. Before undertaking any further regulatory activity, the Commission must consider whether local agencies are doing an adequate job of protecting the health and safety of Californians. If deficiencies are found and publicly identified, then the Commission (or Department) should work with those agencies to adopt measures short of blanket sport fishing closures.
Recreation is important for the mental and physical health of Californians. Moreover, for some anglers in these troubling times, sport caught fish are a matter of subsistence. The Commission should not unnecessarily interfere with otherwise safe forms of recreation, especially one that simultaneously serves as a food source. Some recreational activities are inherently dangerous in current circumstances, like basketball where equipment is shared among the many
participants. Fishing isn’t basketball. So long as otherwise applicable physical distancing rules are followed, fishing is no different than other forms of recreation not under scrutiny. Let local agencies deal with local circumstances.
Respectfully submitted,
Coastside Fishing Club Coastal Conservation American Sportfishing Association – California Association
cc: Gov. Newsom, Wade Crowfoot, Chuck Bonham, Craig Shuman, Kevin Shaffer, Fish and Game Commission

The PDF won't open. Can you copy and paste the letter into your post?

This sucks. I wrote a letter last week in anticipation of such a closure. I haven't sent it yet, but maybe we should all write letters? Here is mine:

Dear Commissioners,

I am writing with concern regarding the remainder of the 2020 fishing season in light of the coronavirus outbreak and the current “shelter-in-place” mandate. I understand that Washington and Oregon have both officially closed their recreational fishing seasons and I hope that California does not follow their lead.

Recreational fishing - kayak fishing in particular - is a largely solitary activity in which individuals can get exercise and procure food while also practicing social-distancing. Food-gathering and exercise are activities that have specifically been deemed necessary in the midst of this pandemic. Many of us fish for food and spend less time in stores thanks to our ability to catch fish such as salmon - an otherwise prohibitively expensive item at the market -
throughout the summer and fall.

I hope that you will continue to allow recreational fishing as long as social-distancing can be safely practiced.

Thanks very much.
Sincerely,

Dear Commissioners:

Fishing is a constitutionally guaranteed right in California. If you institute a blanket closure I will sue you. Do you really want to be known as the commissioners that lost the case of Pickle v. California?

XOXOXOXO

Crash

You guys keep talking about how fishing is a 'solitary activity'... I guess y'all don't understand that the issue, at least up in WA, is that people were doing a lot of traveling -- often to remote communities that lack sufficient medical infrastructure, and exposing locals to COVID-19. It's not the fishing that hurts folks, it's the traveling associated with getting to fishing grounds. I am sure that the same phenomenon is at play in CA.

A lot of folks are coming off as really selfish right now. Chill out, the inability to fish for a couple of months is not the end of the world. Grow up.

You guys keep talking about how fishing is a 'solitary activity'... I guess y'all don't understand that the issue, at least up in WA, is that people were doing a lot of traveling -- often to remote communities that lack sufficient medical infrastructure, and exposing locals to COVID-19. It's not the fishing that hurts folks, it's the traveling associated with getting to fishing grounds. I am sure that the same phenomenon is at play in CA.

A lot of folks are coming off as really selfish right now. Chill out, the inability to fish for a couple of months is not the end of the world. Grow up.

If your issue is with traveling then ban that. Fishing in Washington is not constitutionally protected. It is in California.

Grow up?  How about kiss my ass.

You guys keep talking about how fishing is a 'solitary activity'... I guess y'all don't understand that the issue, at least up in WA, is that people were doing a lot of traveling -- often to remote communities that lack sufficient medical infrastructure, and exposing locals to COVID-19. It's not the fishing that hurts folks, it's the traveling associated with getting to fishing grounds. I am sure that the same phenomenon is at play in CA.

A lot of folks are coming off as really selfish right now. Chill out, the inability to fish for a couple of months is not the end of the world. Grow up.

If it's only for a couple of months, I'm all for it. But in the meantime they should also ban going to beaches, surfing, and boating as well as commercial fishing.

I understand that Washington and Oregon have both officially closed their recreational fishing seasons and I hope that California does not follow their lead.

Just want to clarify here that Oregon has not shut down recreational fishing at this time. They've closed the Columbia River to salmon+steelhead fishing to be in compliance with Washington's state-wide fishing closure. Matter of fact, Oregon continues to encourage its citizens to go outside and fish, while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

I respectfully disagree with those opposing a temporary closure of recreational fishing. As some areas are closed and others are not, we end up with overcrowding in the few remaining accessible spots and huge disparities in terms of who can access the water to fish and who can not.

The whole state’s fishing population is getting funneled into fewer and fewer accessible waterways (many far from home), further stressing and threatening to expose enforcement staff (wardens, etc), maintenance staff (those bathrooms at the launch don’t clean themselves), etc, etc.

I wish I had faith that every single fisherman in the state would act responsibly, wipe surfaces they touch, clean up after themselves, and truly do everything in their power to keep this virus at bay. But I do not...

I do not question the members of this club, but we’re just a tiny slice of the state’s fishing population. Take a quick look at any popular fishing spot and you’ll see it’s absolutely littered with fishing tackle packaging trash, food wrappers, beer cans, broken glass, sh*t piles and TP... Do you really trust the folks responsible for these ugly messes are going to do the right thing? I know I don’t...


Sorry for the downer post. My faith in humanity is running a little low this morning.


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You guys keep talking about how fishing is a 'solitary activity'... I guess y'all don't understand that the issue, at least up in WA, is that people were doing a lot of traveling -- often to remote communities that lack sufficient medical infrastructure, and exposing locals to COVID-19. It's not the fishing that hurts folks, it's the traveling associated with getting to fishing grounds. I am sure that the same phenomenon is at play in CA.

A lot of folks are coming off as really selfish right now. Chill out, the inability to fish for a couple of months is not the end of the world. Grow up.

I agree. Everyone in California is in shelter-in-place, we should not be driving around unless it's for necessary supplies like groceries, medicine, and yes, toilet paper. Not fishing.

I saw a post earlier about a person driving from Sacramento to Alameda to fish, yes he was self isolating. But the intent of shelter-in-place is to keep people from driving. Every time you fill up at a gas station is another potential time to spread the virus. I'm only 27 miles from the Rockwall, I'm doing my part by not traveling. 

Alex - I too, have low faith in humanity, and I understand your point of view. I've decided not to fish for several months to do my part, even though I'm only 20 minutes from productive spots.

My fear is that if they close all fishing, they might decide to not re-open it at all, even after the danger of infection has been significantly reduced. If this would truly be a temporary move to be reconsidered in a few months, I'm all for it.

And I maintain that all beaches, trails, and boating should be closed for the same duration.

My faith in humanity is running a little low this morning.

Citing your lack of faith in your fellow man as a reason to wield the club of direct government prohibition of constitutionally protected activities is not ok.

I think people are idiots too, for whatever that’s worth.

Anyone suggesting a full closure of statewide fishing is a fucking idiot!
I live 35 ft from the ocean and I have every right to fish it. My rights should not be blocked because some asshats decided that they were going to drive from 50 miles away. The pressure should be on the wrong doing, not the ones doing as they are told.
Imagine if everyone decided to hit up your local street to go for a walk, does that mean that you should not be allowed to walk your street?
I agree that we all should social distance ourselves, but we all have certain activities available locally that are unique to our area. We all made our choices of how and where we live. I gave up a lot of conveniences to live where and how I do. If you made choices you can't live with, dont try to dictate mine.

My faith in humanity is running a little low this morning.

Citing your lack of faith in your fellow man as a reason to wield the club of direct government prohibition of constitutionally protected activities is not ok.

I think people are idiots too, for whatever that’s worth.

The same humans that we have lack of faith in are running the government, no?  Just more of them with money and power.  Sounds like a historical, in the making, fail.  So yes, I lack faith in humanity as well...

Anyone suggesting a full closure of statewide fishing is a fucking idiot!

I would not go so far as to say they are idiots.  They are afraid.  They have no problem with overbroad government actions to directly control people in every aspect of life.  They do not value liberty or freedom, and are willing to very quickly sacrifice it on the altar of “safety”.

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.“. It was true when Ben Franklin said it and it’s true today.