Transcript Item 9 lehr Feds Feb 2012 - DFG - CAL

Proposed Regulation Changes
for Striped Bass
California Department of Fish and Game
California Fish and Game Commission Meeting
February 2, 2012
Trustee Responsibilities
The Department of Fish and Game
has Trustee responsibility to ensure
the long-term sustainability of native
fishes (Delta and longfin smelt and
anadromous salmonids) and
important non-native sport fish.
Delta Fish Population Trends
 Winter-run
1980’s
Chinook collapse since the
 Delta
and longfin smelt populations have
steeply declined since the 1990’s
 Recent
indices are persistently low despite
sometimes-favorable environmental
conditions and intensive management
Possible Causes of Decline of
Listed Species






Habitat degradation
Water diversions
Water quality
Fishery and hatchery effects
Predation and competition
Changes in ecosystem and food web
dynamics
Proposal
Goal
Approach for Attaining Goal



The Department seeks to increase the
Reduce
the abundance
of striped
bass
abundance
of the listed
species
through sport fishing regulations
Allow increased harvest of striped bass
Managing uncertainty impact of regulation
change
Proposed Changes
 Increase
daily bag limit from 2 to 6 fish
and possession limit from 4 to 12 fish
 Lower
 “Hot


minimum size from 18 to 12 inches
spot” at Clifton Court Forebay
Daily bag limit = 20; Poss. limit = 40
No size limit; On-site Report card
 Allow
harvest of striped bass in the
Carmel, Pajaro, and Salinas rivers
Historical Overview
Concerns likely to be voiced by
the public today
 You
may hear that “the impact of
striped bass predation on listed
species is negligible.”
Chinook salmon abundance
winter
spring
5
Winter-run (x 10,000)
4
~200
~800 1.5
3
1
2
0.5
1
0
0
70
74
78
82
86
90
Year
94
98
02
06
10
Spring-run (x 10,000)
2
Abundance Indices
delta smelt
1.0
no index
longfin smelt
6
4
2
0
no index
Index (x 10,000)
0
8
no index
0.5
no index
Index (x 1,000)
1.5
67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 11
Year
Striped bass abundance
~1.5 Million
1.0
no estimate
no estimate
no estimate
0.5
no estimate
Abundance (x 1,000,000)
1.5
95
97
99
01
0
69
71
73
75
77
79
81
83
85
87
89
91
Year
93
03
05
07
09
Annual consumption by striped bass
60
Millions of Pounds
50
~50 Million Pounds
40
30
20
10
0
69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09
Year
Concerns likely to be voiced by
the public today
 You
may hear “there are more
important issues that need to be
addressed”
Habitat Enhancement
 Bay Delta Ecosystem Restoration Program -Upwards of $700 million spent on:
• Fish screens at diversions
• Fish passage improvements (Battle Creek = $40M)
• Riparian and in-stream restoration
• Many (many) other restorations
Concerns likely to be voiced by
the public today
 You
may hear “the striped bass fishery
will collapse.”
Abundance (x 1,000,000)
69
71
73
75
77
79
81
83
85
87
89
91
Year
93
no estimate
0
no estimate
0.5
no estimate
0.00
95
97
99
01
no estimate
no estimate
no estimate
no estimate
no estimate
0.05
no estimate
Rate Estimate
Striped bass harvest rate and abundance
0.20
0.15
0.10
1.5
1.0
03
05
07
09
Concerns likely to be voiced by
the public today
 You
may hear that “there will be
predictable human health issues
related to the increase in fish
consumption?”


Smaller fish have lower concentrations of
mercury than larger fish
OEHHA determines the advisory limit on
consumption
Managing the Uncertainty

Prepare adaptive management plan



Monitor striped bass fishery and other predator
populations
Monitor population dynamics of anadromous
salmonids, delta smelt, and longfin smelt
Report results of monitoring and surveys
 Analyze efficacy of regulatory changes
Recommended Action
 Direct


the Department and Commission
Prepare a regulatory packet
Commence environmental review under the
California Environmental Quality Act
 Develop
a robust adaptive management
plan with partner agencies and
stakeholders
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
30
Striped bass abundance versus prey-fish
consumed
Millions of Kilograms
25
20
15
10
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
Abundance Age 3-6 (x 1,000,000)
2
2.2
Abundance Index
2.0
striped bass
1.0
0
no index
0.5
no index
Index (x 10,000)
1.5
67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 11
Year
Potential Health Implications
 Increased
consumption of striped bass
may expose consumer to elevated levels
of methylmercury
 Potential impacts of regulation change on
consumption levels are unknown
 OEHHA will have to evaluate potential
increased human health risk