Bill Text: CA AB2697 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Department of Fish and Wildlife: Kelp Restoration and Resilience Program: Kelp Restoration Science Advisory Committee.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-05 - Re-referred to Com. on W., P., & W. [AB2697 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB2697-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
May 04, 2020 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2697
| Introduced by Assembly Member Muratsuchi |
February 20, 2020 |
An act to amend Section 9055 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to commercial fishing. add Sections 6658 and 6659 to the Fish and Game Code, relating to kelp.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2697, as amended, Muratsuchi.
Commercial fishing: sea urchin diving permits: fees. Department of Fish and Wildlife: Kelp Restoration and Resilience Program: Kelp Restoration Science Advisory Committee.
Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Wildlife Commission and sets forth the powers and duties of the department and the commission. Existing law authorizes the commission to make regulations, as may be necessary, to insure the proper harvesting of kelp and other aquatic plants. Existing law requires, upon the application and payment of a specified fee, the department to issue a license granting the privilege to harvest kelp or other aquatic plants.
This bill would require, to the extent funds are available from bonds, appropriations by the Legislature, or other private and public sources, the department to establish
and administer, in consultation with the Ocean Protection Council and other relevant entities, a Kelp Restoration and Resilience Program for the purpose of achieving numerous biological and scientific goals regarding kelp, including supporting kelp recovery and preservation efforts in all coastal areas of California and conducting statewide monitoring of kelp forests to assess overall health. The bill would require the department, when implementing the program, to consider approaches that provide multiple cobenefits, including, but not limited to, improving commercial fisheries, improving water quality, reducing ocean acidification, and incorporating carbon dioxide removal and long-term carbon sequestration considerations. The bill would also require the Director of Fish and Wildlife to establish, by January 1, 2022, a Kelp Restoration Science Advisory Committee with a specified membership to advise the department on the implementation of the program, provide scientific guidance and expertise to state
agencies to support the recovery of kelp ecosystems on the California coast, and to perform numerous related tasks, as prescribed.
Existing law prohibits the take of sea urchins for commercial purposes except under a valid sea urchin diving permit, subject to regulations adopted by the Fish and Game Commission. Existing law authorizes the commission to limit the number of permits that may be issued if necessary to
prevent overutilization or to ensure efficient and economic operation of the fishery. Existing law requires sea urchin permits to be prepared and issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Existing law sets the fee for a sea urchin permit at $330.
This bill would require the commission to adjust the fees for sea urchin permits, as necessary, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the department and the commission relating to those permits.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 6658 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:6658.
(a) The director shall, by January 1, 2022, establish the Kelp Restoration Science Advisory Committee to advise the department on the implementation of the Kelp Restoration and Resilience Program established pursuant to Section 6659, to provide scientific guidance and expertise to state agencies to support the recovery of kelp ecosystems on the California coast, and to do all of the following:(1) Review and assess data from existing research and ongoing pilot projects to identify critical knowledge gaps related to kelp forest ecosystems, kelp and sea urchin biological processes, kelp forest stressors, and kelp-urchin population dynamics.
(2) Identify research priorities needed
to facilitate broad scale recovery and increase resilience of the kelp ecosystem.
(3) Make recommendations on methods and approaches for both active and natural kelp recovery efforts.
(4) Identify sites along the south, central, and north coasts of California for kelp restoration projects and for potential establishment of refuge areas where existing kelp forests should be preserved.
(5) Make recommendations for kelp monitoring along the entire California coast to track the overall extent, health, and recovery of kelp forests.
(6) Assist state and local agencies in updating polices, rules, and regulations that would ease and expedite kelp restoration efforts and help protect kelp forests from future degradation.
(b) In consultation with the Ocean Protection Council, the director shall appoint the members of the Kelp Restoration Science Advisory Committee, who shall be highly qualified and professionally active or engaged in the conduct of scientific research in fields associated with kelp and the broader coastal ecosystem. Members shall include, but not be limited to, qualified persons from the following groups:
(1) Experts from the department.
(2) Experts from the Ocean Protection Council.
(3) Representatives from nonprofit organizations that conduct kelp and coastal ecosystem research or restoration efforts.
(4) Representatives from the California Sea Urchin Commission, commercial sea urchin
divers, or commercial aquaculture groups and businesses.
(5) Scientific researchers from universities and research laboratories.
SEC. 2.
Section 6659 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:6659.
(a) To the extent funds for these purposes are available from bonds, appropriations by the Legislature, or from other private and public sources, the department shall establish and administer, in consultation with the Ocean Protection Council and other relevant entities, the Kelp Restoration and Resilience Program for the purpose of achieving all of the following goals:(1) Supporting active and natural kelp recovery and kelp forest preservation efforts in all coastal areas of California.
(2) Conducting statewide monitoring of kelp forests to assess the extent of kelp coverage and overall health using aerial surveys and other monitoring methods.
(3) Supporting science and research to better understand kelp ecosystems, kelp and sea urchin dynamics, and other research areas identified by the Kelp Restoration Science Advisory Committee.
(4) Supporting the development of commercial aquaculture solutions to aid kelp restoration efforts.
(5) Engaging community partners, organizations, and members of the public to raise awareness of kelp recovery efforts and increase involvement in kelp recovery and restoration efforts.
(b) In implementing the Kelp Restoration and Resilience Program, the department shall consider approaches that provide multiple cobenefits, including, but not limited to, improving commercial fisheries, improving water quality, reducing ocean acidification, and incorporating carbon
dioxide removal and long-term carbon sequestration considerations.
(a)The fee for a sea urchin diving permit authorized pursuant to Section 9054 is three hundred thirty dollars ($330).
(b)The commission shall adjust the amount of the fees specified in subdivision (a), as necessary, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the department and the commission relating to those permits.
