MARINE REGION 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW
Mackerel swim through giant kelp in Southern California waters CDFW photo by A. Maguire
A Message From Craig Shuman, Marine Region Manager
I will remember 2015 as a year characterized by unusual of recreational crabbers. In addition, CDFW scuba surveys ocean conditions, uncommon events and some very rare revealed dramatically changed ecosystems off California’s circumstances. What started off as a relatively “normal” north coast, and the one-two punch of El Niño and the year quickly changed in mid-April with the closing of the prolonged drought resulted in poor fishing seasons for West Coast sardine fishery. Just over a month later the market squid, salmon, and other species. Refugio oil spill occurred, resulting in widespread ecological damage and a six- Through it all, Marine Region staff week fishing closure along the led the charge, collecting and Gaviota coast in the Santa Marine Region Mission: analyzing data, developing and Barbara Channel. To protect, maintain, enhance, implementing policy, and communicating with stakeholders As abnormally warm ocean waters and restore California’s and policy makers. Our blanketed the coast throughout marine ecosystems for their administrative team was more summer and fall, semi-tropical ecological values and their crucial than ever, maintaining and tropical species were smooth operations and supporting observed off our shores. The use and enjoyment by the all our efforts during long days in warm water brought not only red public through good science the field, and often even longer days crabs and sea snakes to Southern in meetings with the Pacific Fishery and e ective communication. California beaches, but some Management Council and Fish and great fishing. Of the 31 Game Commission. recreationally caught wahoo sampled by California Department of Fish and Wildlife Resilience is often cited as a primary biological (CDFW) staff over the last 10 years, 29 were caught in 2015. mechanism for marine ecosystems to cope with a The bluefin tuna diving record was broken not once, but changing climate. Through the ups and downs of a crazy twice, besting the old record by almost 100 pounds. 2015, Marine Region staff demonstrated their resilience, commitment, and flexibility in adapting to new Unfortunately, brewing beneath the surface was a massive conditions. I wish to congratulate our staff for a job well toxic algal bloom that stretched from Southern California done during a very difficult year, and extend my to the Gulf of Alaska, resulting in high domoic acid levels appreciation to California’s Tribes and tribal communities, in a number of species and the closure of the rock crab our ocean-focused constituents, and partners for their and Dungeness crab fisheries. These closures caused constructive input and dedication to California’s marine devastating economic impacts to fishermen and coastal resources. communities, not to mention the extreme disappointment 1 Table of Contents
1. State-Managed Marine Species Program...... 3
2. State-Federal Marine Species Program...... 8
3. Resource Assessment Program...... 13
4. Habitat Conservation Program...... 15
5. Administration...... 20
About the Marine Region... The Marine Region extends along the entire California coastline from the Oregon-California border to the border with Mexico, and approximately three nautical miles out to sea, including o shore islands. The ve programs listed in the Table of Contents above illustrate the breadth and depth of Marine Region commitment to monitoring and protecting California’s marine environment, and our commitment to providing each resident and visitor with the opportunity to use and enjoy California’s marine resources.
2015 Region-Wide Accomplishments, By The Numbers...
Rebuilt 2 over shed ground sh Processed 263 Scienti c Collecting Permit species to healthy levels - canary applications and issued 172 permits rock sh and petrale sole - in conjunction with federal partners. Submitted 9 regulatory packages to the Fish and Game Commission for consideration Contacted over 58,000 saltwater angling parties. Observed and identi ed over 222,000 sh and invertebrates, and Entered over 56,000 commercial measured over 126,000 sh landing receipts Reviewed nearly 700 environmental documents, and submitted 33 Worked with partners to comment letters and permits install 195 MPA interpretive and regulatory signs Submitted 31 reports on federal regulatory issues Sampled 49,300 salmon in the sport and commercial ocean salmon sheries and collected 11,500 tags to determine Reviewed and approved 175 the age and origin of hatchery sh aquaculture registration permits
2 1. State-Managed Marine Species Program This program is responsible for sheries managed by the State alone.
Abalone – In northern California, data from all 2014 and helped develop options for the Fish and Game abalone report cards received in the Fort Bragg o ce Commission to address the marine debris issue. (over 9,100) were entered into the Automated License Data System. CDFW Natural Resource Volunteer Program Sta prepared, processed, reviewed or approved 42 members throughout the State completed over 450 live importation permits, 175 aquaculture registrations, abalone diver and rock picker interviews as part of a one wild broodstock collecting permit, three letters of telephone survey to collect data that will help determine authorization, nine restricted species permits, and one the economic value of the shery, as well as gather catch private stocking permit. Sta prepared recommendations data from those who did not return their cards. to the Fish and Game Commission on requests to renew ve state water bottom aquaculture leases and one In Southern California, 48 baby abalone recruitment sub-lease. Sta participated on an internal mariculture traps divided between Catalina Island, La Jolla, Santa core working group to evaluate an application for a Cruz Island (Yellowbanks), and Palos Verdes sites were new state water bottom aquaculture lease o the coast surveyed by scienti c divers. Nine transects were at Santa Barbara. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife. surveyed at three sites o San Nicolas Island, where sta ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/ABMP/Aquaculture for more measured 349 black abalone. information about California marine aquaculture.
Sta continued development of the Red Abalone Fishery Bay Management - Sta completed the rst year of Management Plan. The development process will build a multi-year ecological study in Drakes Estero at Point upon the Abalone Recovery and Management Plan’s Reyes National Seashore focused on gauging impacts shery management framework and goals. During 2015, to the benthic ecosystem associated with the decades- sta conducted an online abalone diver and rock picker long oyster aquaculture operation that recently ceased survey, held an essential sheries information webinar in Drakes Estero. Sta are surveying densities of eelgrass, with experts, and began drafting the management plan. man-made debris, and the invasive tunicate Didemnum vexillum, as well as the abundance of sh and motile Sta participated as part of the NOAA Fisheries Black invertebrates before and after removal of the wooden Abalone Recovery Team to develop a draft recovery rack structures by the National Parks Service. Sta plan for the endangered black abalone. Sta submitted presented results from the study’s rst year surveys at another multi-year endangered species restoration the October 2015 meeting of the Western Society of grant proposal to NOAA Fisheries to continue work Naturalists in Sacramento. on restoring white abalone in the wild, and continued coordinating and collaborating with partners on various restoration e orts for green Diver records data along a transect abalone. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/ during a survey. photo by A. Maguire Conservation/Marine/Invertebrates/Abalone for more information about abalone.
Aquaculture – Sta participated in stakeholder meetings and eld visits with Fish and Game Commission sta and Commissioners, other State agency regulators, and shell sh growers to address concerns regarding aquaculture debris in Tomales Bay from state water bottom aquaculture leases. Sta discussed best management practices for shell sh aquaculture 3 Sta applied for and received $50,112 in funds through otoliths were aged. A total of 275 kelp bass otoliths were the State Wildlife Grants Program to evaluate the collected, bringing the grand total to 1,230; kelp bass spawning and larval distribution of long n smelt in ageing will begin in 2016. Humboldt Bay. The project aims to acquire fundamental ecological information essential for management of Hormone assays were completed on over 400 kelp bass the Humboldt Bay population of long n smelt, and will blood samples to determine daily and monthly peaks directly support recovery planning for this threatened in spawning activity. These samples will also be used species. This is a collaborative e ort between sta , along with other data to estimate the number of eggs Humboldt State University, and the NMFS Southwest a female kelp bass produces annually. Sta presented Fisheries Science Center. Sampling will begin in 2016. preliminary results at the Southern California Academy Visit the CDFW website at www.wildlife.ca.gov/ of Sciences annual meeting. Visit the CDFW website at Conservation/Marine/ABMP for more information about wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/SCFRMP#28087298- California ocean bay management. current-studies for more information about bass research and management. Barred Sand Bass and Kelp Bass - To help evaluate the 2013 sport shing regulation change for the basses, California Halibut – Sta obtained information critical sta completed 42 sampling trips aboard commercial for improving the understanding of California halibut passenger shing vessels to collect information on biology and life history, which will also improve stock numbers, sizes, and the survival rate (mortality) of assessment analyses. Sampling continued for the released sh; data were collected on 750 kelp bass and 75 commercial and recreational California halibut sheries barred sand bass. in central California. Data were collected on length, sex, spawning condition, and age. Sta surpassed the 2,800 Bass age and growth studies continued in 2015. A total mark in number of halibut aged since 2007, using thin- of 100 barred sand bass otoliths (“ear bones”) were sectioned otoliths. CDFW’s Bay Delta study determined collected, bringing the grand total to over 800; over 700 that the preliminary juvenile California halibut abundance index for 2015 was a record for the study period (1980- 2015). California Recreational Fisheries Survey samplers continued using a non-invasive method developed by CDFW environmental scientist Kim Walker collects sta to obtain information on the sex of California halibut. data for a kelp bass reproduction study. CDFW photo by T. Nguyen Sta completed the nal version of a “how-to” video for external sex determination, which was posted on the CDFW YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/ watch?v=10nFNAgcLKs). Work began on the second statewide halibut stock assessment using data collected since 2011, when the rst assessment was completed. Sta co-authored a manuscript for California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) Reports with Cheryl Barnes et al. entitled Growth, Mortality, and Reproductive Seasonality of California Halibut (Paralichthys californicus): A Biogeographic Approach. Sta completed a paper about a comprehensive 2-year study of California halibut length and age at maturity in central California based on histological examinations and thin-section otolith ageing; the manuscript will be submitted to California Fish and Game (scienti c journal) in 2016. Sta made over 25 trips to launch ramps, shing derbies, and aboard CPFVs in Southern California to sample sport-caught halibut. A total of 60 sport-caught and 13 commercially caught halibut were sampled, with 49 pairs of otoliths taken; the largest halibut weighed over 32 pounds. 4 Sta co-authored an article entitled Testing a non-lethal method for determining the sex of California halibut, Paralichthys californicus, in non-spawning condition. The article was written in collaboration with the Santa Monica Bay Foundation, and published in Fisheries Management and Ecology (scienti c journal). Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/ Marine/NCCFRMP/Halibut-Studies/Halibut- Assessment for more information about California halibut. California halibut, Paralichthys californicus Diving Safety Program – Seven new diver CDFW photo candidates were certi ed during CDFW’s week- long diver certi cation program at Catalina Island in 2015. Collaboration with other agencies and California. By the end of the calendar year, the recreational universities continued to leverage CDFW’s underwater shery had opened south of Monterey County. e orts, with 51 visiting divers assisting on CDFW or joint projects. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/ As part of the e ort to understand the population Conservation/Marine/Diving-Safety for more information dynamics of the crab shery, sta continued to monitor about the Diving Safety Program. and count Dungeness crab larvae in the spring months at two locations in northern and central California to assess Dungeness Crab – Reports of whale entanglements with its value as a predictive tool for future catches. In 2015, Dungeness crab commercial shing gear have increased the total counts at Humboldt Bay ranked fth out of the in recent years. In collaboration with NOAA Fisheries and last eight years of sampling, while Bodega Bay ranked the Ocean Protection Council, sta held a public meeting near the bottom of the nine years of sampling there. This in August to discuss and share information on ways was also the third year of sampling at Moss Landing in to reduce the risk of entanglements in the California collaboration with California State University, Monterey Dungeness crab shery. Commercial and recreational Bay students. The total count was very similar to 2014: shermen, environmental non-governmental it was several orders of magnitude lower than the rst agencies, and interested members of the public were year of sampling in 2013, which has been the highest in attendance to discuss the current issues regarding year for all three sites. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife. recent whale entanglement reports and dynamics of the ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Invertebrates/Crabs for more commercial shery. information about Dungeness crab.
Following this meeting, a collaborative working group Green Sturgeon – A collaborative study between CDFW, was established comprised of federal and state agency National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Ground sh sta , commercial shermen representing eight major trawl observers, and commercial California halibut trawl ports, two recreational shermen, and representatives shermen was initiated to satellite tag and monitor the from several environmental non-pro t organizations. survivability of any green sturgeon (a threatened species) Over the course of two meetings held in the fall, the caught incidentally in the central California halibut trawl group developed short- and long-term strategies to shery in the Gulf of the Farallones. In 2015, 30 satellite reduce the risk of whale entanglements with shing gear. tags were deployed; most began transmitting data when In addition to these discussions, sta also continued to the tags automatically released from the sh. Some of work with industry on developing a long-term lost gear the tags released in the San Francisco Bay area, indicating recovery program for the shery. that these green sturgeon had moved into the estuary. The study will continue in 2016. Visit the CDFW website at The start of the 2015-2016 recreational and commercial dfg.ca.gov/ sh/Resources/Sturgeon/ for more information shing seasons were delayed due to domoic acid about green sturgeon. concentrations exceeding the federal alert level in Dungeness crabs sampled from the eight major ports in 5 Hag sh – Sta continued to examine and analyze barrel website. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/ traps as alternative gear for the commercial hag sh Commercial/Kelp for more information about kelp and other shery. After consultation with experimental gear marine algae. permittees and others in the shery, regulations were adopted by the Fish and Game Commission to allow Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery the use of this gear, with an e ective date of January 1, Program (OREHP) - CDFW’s multi-year evaluation 2016. The number of ground lines attached to the barrels of the White Seabass Experimental Enhancement was limited to two per vessel to minimize potential gear Program, coordinated by California Sea Grant, continued interactions with whales. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife. throughout 2015. A Scienti c Advisory Committee (SAC) ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/NCCFRMP#29429329-hag sh was assembled early in the year to develop scienti c for more information about hag sh. criteria for use in assessing the program’s success in meeting its objectives. Through California Sea Grant, Kelp and Other Marine Algae - Sta reviewed and sta provided the SAC with over 30 years of reports, provided recommendations to the Fish and Game publications, and other documents associated with Commission for two kelp harvest plans to mechanically the program for review. Sub-panels were also formed harvest giant kelp from 12 kelp beds. to assist the SAC members with the comprehensive assessments of each core program area (population The 2014 aerial kelp survey data les were processed biology, genetics, etc.). and are now available on Marine Region’s historical kelp survey webpage (ftp://ftp.dfg.ca.gov/R7_MR/BIOLOGICAL/ The oldest hatchery-raised white seabass was recaptured Kelp/) and MarineBIOS (wildlife.ca.gov/MarineBIOS). Sta in June o the coast between Santa Barbara and Ventura. completed the 2015 aerial survey of the kelp canopy The 15-year-old female was released from the Marina along the entire mainland coast and Channel Islands, and del Rey growout pen in July 2001. Visit the CDFW website the imagery is currently being processed. at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/ABMP/OREHP for further information. Sta amended the Informational Digest to the Regulations Governing the Harvest of Kelp and other Marine Algae in Paci c Herring - Sta completed sampling and California, a document designed to provide up-to-date population estimates for Paci c herring in San Francisco information for commercial harvesters of kelp and other Bay. The season ended with 12 spawning events and a marine algae. Sta revised/updated maps depicting nal season estimate of 16,700 tons of herring. This is a administrative kelp beds and edible seaweed maps. A signi cant reduction from the 2013-2014 season estimate Marine Management News blog post was published on of 60,600 tons. Sta completed a nal supplemental the three-phase process to update regulations for the environmental document and rulemaking package to commercial harvest of marine algae (bit.ly/1T4odyg). A review and evaluate the proposed regulatory changes for new Kelp and Other Marine Algae web page that contains the 2015-2016 shing season. Due to the below average maps, information, and regulations governing the com- biomass estimate, a reduced quota recommendation was mercial harvest of algae was added to the Marine Region forwarded to the Fish and Game Commission. Sta also worked closely with the Herring Fishery Management Plan Steering Committee to continue laying
CDFW Environmental Scientist the groundwork for development of a shery Travis Tanaka samples hag sh. management plan for this shery. Visit the Paci c CDFW le photo Herring Management News blog at cdfwherring. wordpress.com, or the CDFW website at wildlife. ca.gov/Fishing/Commercial/Herring for more information about Paci c herring.
Refugio Oil Spill Response - Sta assisted in the Refugio oil spill response. Sta participated on teams that developed sampling protocols for the shery closure, collected and processed biological samples, provided research equipment, 6 and helped with safe delivery of oiled animals to rehabilitation sites. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife. ca.gov/ospr/nrda/refugio for more information about this oil spill.
Saltwater Angling and Diving Records - Sta worked closely with the CDFW Forms Branch to update angling and diving records forms. Two saltwater diving records were accepted (old values in parenthesis) in 2015: • Blue n Tuna (diving): 178 lbs, 1 oz. (98 lbs) – June Yellow n croaker tagged and ready for release. photo by Mike Romo 11, 2015 • Blue n Tuna (diving): 185 lbs, 1 oz. (178 lbs, 1 oz.) more information about the California Spiny Lobster Fishery – July 3, 2015 Management Plan process. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/ Records for more information about saltwater record sh Surf Fishes – Sta continued the analysis of spatial and and invertebrates. temporal abundances of surf shes in Southern California from study data that spanned 2007-2009, when over Sea Cucumber – Sta continued dive and laboratory 400 beach seine hauls were completed. Preliminary research to collect essential shery information for results were presented at the CDFW Science Symposium warty sea cucumber populations at the northern in December. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/ Channel Islands. Seasonal dive surveys were performed Conservation/Marine/SCFRMP/Surf-Fish for more at six di erent locations (inside and outside of marine information about surf sh studies. protected areas) to measure changes in densities and to characterize size distributions. A total of 402 sea True Smelts - Sta submitted a manuscript to CalCOFI cucumbers were collected and dissected to determine Reports on the status and life history of true smelts. spawning condition, sex ratio, fecundity, and length/ A nal report on the 2014 collaborative night smelt weight relationships. Download the CDFW document at life history study was completed and submitted to nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=34418 (PDF) Collaborative Fisheries Research West. Visit the CDFW for more information about sea cucumber. website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/NCCFRMP/ True-Smelts for more information about smelt. Spiny Lobster – The 2014-2015 lobster shing season saw the third highest commercial lobster landings on White Seabass - Sta collected and analyzed commercial record, at nearly 960,000 pounds. The recreational shing and recreational data for white seabass as part of the season also saw the highest rate of lobster report card annual review of the White Seabass Fishery Management returns, at 54 percent (nearly 20,000 report cards). Plan for the 2013-2014 season. The number and size of white seabass landed, information on forage sh After completing a multi-year process that involved availability, and socio-economic data were evaluated to working with a Lobster Advisory Committee and scienti c determine if points of concern were met. The results were peer reviewers, a CEQA analysis, and the crafting of presented to the White Seabass Scienti c and Constituent proposed regulations, the California Spiny Lobster Fishery Advisory Panel and a report was sent to the Fish and Management Plan was submitted to the Fish and Game Game Commission. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife. Commission in December 2015. Visit the CDFW website ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/NCCFRMP/White-Seabass for at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Lobster-FMP for more information about white seabass.
7 2. State-Federal Marine Species Program This program is responsible for sheries jointly managed by state and federal entities.
Blue n Tuna – Sta coordinated with NOAA Fisheries Sta worked with federal and industry partners to and the Paci c Fishery Management Council to analyze expand and improve commercial and recreational shery and develop management measures that reduce monitoring programs that track landings and biological recreational take of Paci c blue n tuna o the West Coast data for blue n tuna. in accordance with international treaty goals for this over shed species. Sta conducted a pilot aerial survey with support from California Wet sh Producers Association to document Sta implemented conforming state regulations blue n tuna abundance o Southern California. to reduce recreational Paci c blue n tuna bag and possession limits, and modify llet regulations for tunas Sta attended NOAA Fisheries’ annual tuna workshop with input from the public and shing industry. and presented a poster. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife. ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/CPS-HMS/Tunas for more Sta coordinated on outreach to the angling public information about blue n tuna. with NOAA Fisheries and the Sport shing Association of California, including development of iers and handouts, Coastal Pelagic Species (market squid, anchovy, Marine Management News blog articles (bit.ly/1ZCmcNA), mackerel, sardine) – Sta amended California Code a press release, and participation in a panel discussion at of Regulations Title 14, Section 149(e) to update and the 2015 Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle, Boat and Travel Show reorganize existing market squid logbook forms. in Long Beach. Amended regulations are expected to go into e ect on April 1, 2016.
CDFW continued to closely monitor market squid landings to ensure that the seasonal catch limit was not exceeded; the seasonal catch limit was not attained during the 2015-2016 season, likely due to the onset of El Niño.
One hundred twenty-nine northern anchovy biological samples collected from the commercial shery in 2014 and 2015 were processed in preparation for a future federal stock assessment. Length, weight, sex, and sexual maturity were recorded for each sampled sh. Otoliths were also extracted for ageing purposes.
Aerial surveys continued to record sh school biomass and distribution and develop biomass estimates for sardine, anchovy, and mackerel in Southern California in collaboration with the California Wet sh Producers Association.
Sta held a public meeting for live bait shery participants, including both private shing vessel and commercial passenger shing vessel operators. Tuna llet illustration for the annual Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklet. 8 Information was exchanged on the CDFW voluntary logbook program and shery operations to improve data collection and monitoring e orts.
Sta participated in the Tri-national Sardine Forum, an annual meeting of scientists from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, to review current research on West Coast sardines. This year, the forum was held in La Jolla and sta gave a presentation on the 2015 California sardine shery. The over shed canary rock sh stock was pronounced rebuilt to a healthy level ahead of schedule in 2015. CDFW/MARE photo Sta estimated the ages of Paci c sardine and mackerel taken in the sheries for use in annual stock assessments. In 2015, sta aged 2,550 pairs This e ort resulted in the Paci c Fishery Management of sardine and 1,300 pairs of mackerel otoliths. Sta also Council recommending adoption of appropriate participated in an ageing workshop after the Tri-national regulations to the National Marine Fisheries Service at Sardine Forum with Southwest Fisheries Science Center their September 2015 meeting. The National Marine and other forum participants to review methods. Fisheries Service will publish the proposed regulations for public review in early January 2016. CDFW will pursue Sta contributed market squid and coastal pelagic similar conforming regulations for state waters in 2016. species shery update reports to the CalCOFI (scienti c) journal and prepared presentations for the CalCOFI Endangered Species Act – Sta assisted in updating conference, including a poster presentation on the recent the federal Endangered Species Act Section 6 agreement shery and biological trends of market squid in response to include all marine Endangered Species Act-listed to warm water. species that occur in California. Sta provided expertise in determining potential CDFW activities that could bene t Sta evaluated and used stock status information listed species, and communicated with National Marine on Paci c sardine and mackerel to develop its Fisheries Service sta to determine activities that would recommendation for 2015 West Coast shery harvest qualify for Section 6 funding. This new agreement will levels in collaboration with other state and federal allow CDFW to request grant funding from the National agency representatives. Marine Fisheries Service for CDFW work that bene ts listed species. Sta visited the docks 12 days per month at more than six di erent ports to digitally enter catch information Ground sh – California’s sport and commercial and track the quotas for squid, sardine, anchovy, Paci c ground sh sheries (which include over 90 species of mackerel, and jack mackerel. Sta also took biological rock sh, round sh, at sh, skates and sharks) remained samples of these species to use in annual stock within prescribed annual catch limits and accountability assessments. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/ measures in 2015 for most species, due to active Conservation/Marine/CPS-HMS for more information about monitoring and management by sta and partner coastal pelagic species. agencies and stakeholders.
Ecosystem – In collaboration with West Coast state Two important West Coast ground sh stocks that were and federal agency partners, sta completed a multi- designated “over shed”—canary rock sh and petrale year e ort to increase protections in federal waters for sole—have rebuilt to healthy levels ahead of schedule. unmanaged forage sh, as part of increased attention by the Paci c Fishery Management Council on ecosystem Rebuilding of other over shed ground sh stocks is management. The e ort was initiated after requests by proceeding more quickly than projected in part due to the environmental community and others, and advanced strict protections, favorable ocean conditions that have by working with partners to support a prohibition on resulted in good recruitment, and management and developing new sheries for a comprehensive suite of outreach e orts by sta and partners to avoid and care forage sh, while continuing to allow existing activities. for species of concern. 9 In collaboration with federal agency partners, sta human observer requirement in the ground sh catch analyzed a range of alternatives to re-allocate blackgill share program, and is expected to reduce operating costs rock sh between the trawl and non-trawl sectors to for some of the eet while still achieving overall program allow for more re ned management and to address monitoring goals. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/ conservation concerns. Removing blackgill rock sh from Conservation/Marine/Ground sh for more information the southern slope rock sh complex and reallocating it about ground sh. and the remaining species in the complex was ultimately chosen as the best alternative to meet these objectives, Paci c Halibut – California’s recreational Paci c halibut and a nal rule is expected to be e ective in early 2018. allocation increased from one percent to four percent of the West Coast’s non-tribal allocation in 2015. This was In collaboration with federal agency partners, sta the direct result of sta -led, collaborative e orts between examined alternatives to develop proposed incidental northern California coastal community shing groups catch levels of Endangered Species Act-listed Chinook and West Coast government agencies to evaluate and salmon stocks caught in the Paci c coast ground sh revise allocations in the West Coast catch sharing plan. As shery. Recommendations are being developed a result, CDFW agreed to monitor the shery during the regarding the threshold for incidental catch levels season and revise its management measures to manage and mitigation measures, including those that can be the catch to the new, higher allocation/quota. implemented in-season to prevent thresholds from being exceeded. The new in-season tracking and projection methodology worked well during 2015 to monitor progression of the In collaboration with federal agency partners and non- shery on a weekly basis. The season was scheduled to governmental agencies, sta assisted with developing begin on May 1 and end on October 31, with periodic a range of alternatives to evaluate modi cations to closed dates during May, June, July and August, with the essential sh habitat for ground sh, and adjust the trawl shery remaining open until its scheduled end or untl rock sh conservation area, with the goal of minimizing the quota was reached. However, following discussions adverse e ects on sensitive habitats that can occur when with the International Paci c Halibut Commission and shing with trawl gear, allowing increased access to National Marine Fisheries Service, an in-season shery productive shing grounds, and increasing e ciency in closure was implemented on August 13 based on resource utilization. projected early attainment of the 2015 California quota. Final 2015 catch estimates totaled 24,906 net pounds— CDFW conducted ve statewide public workshops just below the 25,200 net pound quota. The average net to solicit public input on development of ground sh weight per sh in 2015 was approximately 25 pounds. management measures for 2017 and 2018. California sent a delegation to the International Paci c In collaboration with other agencies and partners, Halibut Commission annual meeting for the rst time sta provided guidance for developing whiting shery ever in January 2015 and plans to send a delegation in electronic monitoring program regulations, which are 2016 as well. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/ expected to be nalized in 2016. This would allow for use Conservation/Marine/Paci c-Halibut for more information of video cameras in lieu of the mandatory 100 percent about Paci c halibut.
Salmon – Sta monitored recreational and commercial ocean salmon sheries at approximately 20 ports along the California coast in 2015. In the commercial shery, sta sampled approximately 37,700 salmon and collected snouts from 8,200 adipose n-clipped salmon for subsequent coded-wire tag (CWT) processing. In the recreational shery, sta coordinated with California Recreational Fisheries Survey sta to interview 23,200 anglers, sample 11,600 Chinook and collect 3,329 heads from adipose n-clipped salmon. Sta utilized these sample data to produce annual ocean catch and e ort estimates by shery, management area, and half-month period. 10 CRFS sampler Dani Shaut posts notice of the recreational Paci c halibut shery closure as attainment of the quota draws near in August, 2015. CDFW photo by S. Walkenhauer Sta processed approximately 11,500 CWTs and uploaded these data, along with their respective catch- sample data, to the Regional Mark Processing Center. These data are used to determine stock contributions and shery impacts needed to sustainably manage West Coast sheries and protect California salmon stocks. Approximately two-thirds of the salmon caught in California ocean sheries originated from hatcheries, with almost all of these sh produced, raised, and released from California hatcheries located in the Central Valley and Klamath-Trinity River Basin. The majority of these sh (75 percent) were Sacramento River fall Chinook.
Sta responded to nearly 300 public inquiries received through the Ocean Salmon Courtesy Request Program. On request, the program sends information to PSMFC Fisheries Technician Adam Stewart prepares to remove the snout from commercial trollers and recreational anglers about the a tagged salmon landed in Fort Bragg. CDFW photo by A. Letvin salmon they landed. CWTs extracted from the sh provide shermen with the sh’s hatchery of origin, brood year, lines at Point Reyes and Point Sur are not advisable. stock, run type, and date and location of release. The CDFW and Paci c Fishery Management Council worked together to take additional actions to protect Sta recorded escapement data and collected scales endangered Sacramento River winter Chinook, which and salmon heads at Central Valley salmon hatcheries. have been impacted by California’s severe drought. Roughly 4,600 heads from adipose n-clipped salmon Commercial and recreational industry representatives on collected by Central Valley monitoring surveys were the Council’s salmon advisory subpanel also recognized processed at the Santa Rosa o ce. the need for additional protections. As a result of this cooperation between industry representatives and Sta worked alongside federal, tribal, and other state regulatory bodies, shing seasons were curtailed to agencies to produce the Review of 2014 Ocean Salmon reduce shery impact rates on this endangered stock. Fisheries and several pre-season reports for use in drafting ocean salmon seasons in 2015. These documents report Sta wrote the Recovery of Coded-Wire Tags from Chinook on ocean harvest, inland escapement, abundance Salmon in California’s Central Valley Escapement, Inland forecasts, regulatory season alternatives, and nal ocean Harvest, and Ocean Harvest in 2012 administrative report regulations. (bit.ly/246odCX). This report documents relative hatchery contributions to salmon sheries and inland escapement One hundred and twenty stakeholders attended and also evaluates various hatchery release strategies. CDFW’s annual Ocean Salmon Information Meeting. Sta provided information on 2014 ocean salmon Klamath River technical team collaboration continued sheries, spawning escapement, and the outlook for with tribes, federal agencies and other state programs 2015 sport and commercial ocean salmon sheries, and to consolidate and summarize catch and other survey received input from stakeholders for consideration in the information on Klamath River fall Chinook for use in the development of 2015 ocean salmon regulations. 2015 management cycle.
In response to industry requests, sta worked with the In collaboration with partner agencies, sta continued National Fisheries Management Council to evaluate the to implement the Central Valley Scale Age Project. merits of adding additional management lines at Point The goal of this project is to improve management Reyes and Point Sur. CWT and genetic stock identi cation of Sacramento River fall Chinook, which supports data was reviewed to evaluate potential impacts of approximately 90 percent of California’s ocean and river spatial strati cation on Klamath River and Sacramento salmon sheries. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/ River Chinook stocks. Due to limited available data for Fishing/Ocean/Regulations/Salmon for more information certain stocks and the implications for stock assessment about ocean salmon. precision, it was determined that additional management 11 managers, commercial shermen, seafood suppliers, non-governmental agencies, and academics. The group discussed ways to optimize sword sh sheries o the West Coast while addressing concerns to reduced bycatch and create innovative new shing methods.
Sta represented CDFW on the Paci c Fishery Management Council and Highly Migratory In 2015, CRFS samplers documented catches of warmwater sh rarely seen o California, Species Management Team. Sta proposed such as this bluestripe chub caught o La Jolla. CDFW photo by A. Antonio/I. Su and developed bycatch hard caps for the California drift gillnet shery targeting sharks and sword sh, and led the Council’s adoption of Sword sh – Sta participated in the Paci c O shore a two-year hard cap management scheme designed to Cetacean Take Reduction Team. The team met in further reduced bycatch of Endangered Species Act-listed March 2015 to make recommendations on the use of marine mammals and turtles. alternative methodologies for modeling strategic stocks (marine mammals) and to coordinate management of Sta supported the development and research of bycatch reduction in the California drift gillnet shery alternative gears targeting sword sh such as deep-set under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and buoy gear by providing recommendations and analysis Management Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act on research proposals submitted through the Paci c authority of NOAA Fisheries. Fishery Management Council Experimental Fishing Gear Permit process. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife. Sta participated in the 2015 West Coast Sword sh ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/CPS-HMS/Bill shes for more Meeting sponsored by NOAA Fisheries. Over 50 information about sword sh. participants attended the workshop, including shery
12 3. Resource Assessment Program
California Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS) – CRFS • Using commercial passenger shing vessel (CPFV) eld operations were supported by 11 permanent sta logbooks submitted by vessel skippers in tandem and 55 temporary Fish and Wildlife Scienti c Aids in 2015. with a supplemental eld survey to estimate CPFV Sta contacted over 58,000 angling parties targeting shing e ort. Previously, CPFV e ort estimates came sh in state marine waters. Anglers reported catching from a telephone survey. The new method better over 541,000 sh and invertebrates, of which sta were leverages available data, and represents a signi cant able to observe 222,000 of the retained catch for species cost savings. identi cation. In addition, sta measured over 126,000 • Redesigning two surveys to improve e ciency and sh. CRFS and CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Project sta accuracy. together recovered 3,329 salmon heads from the ocean • Designing a remote data-entry system that can be salmon recreational shery. accessed from any computer. • Developing an online system for drawing monthly Warmer than usual tropical currents associated with an El sample assignments and tracking assignments. Niño event resulted in some unusual recreational catches in Southern California. Species sampled by sta included Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/ Colorado snapper, Paci c tripletail, bluestripe sea chub Marine/CRFS/Background#improvements for more informa- and wahoo. Of the 31 recreationally caught wahoo tion about the evolution of CRFS. sampled by sta over the last ten years, 29 were landed in 2015. Field sta entered the data collected during their Improving Data Systems – Data and Technology Division eld surveys into the CRFS data system. Visit the CDFW and Marine Region sta continued development of website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/CRFS for two very important commercial shery data systems: more information about CRFS. the Marine Log System and the Marine Landings Data System. These data systems are expected to be California Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS) completed in 2017 and will provide CDFW with modern Outreach - Sta provided information to the recreational sheries-dependent data systems that will ensure secure, shing community including sport shing regulation centralized and easily accessible data. The goal is to move booklets, species identi cation yers, and barotrauma towards electronic reporting such that near real-time brochures that included instructions on the use of data will be available for sheries managers for use in sh descending devices. Visit the CDFW website at decision making. Visit the CDFW website at apps.wildlife. wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/CRFS/Additional- ca.gov/marinelogs/ for more information about CDFW Information# iers to see information CRFS sta distribute to electronic logs. the recreational shing community. Recreational Fisheries Data System – In addition to the Recreational Fisheries Data Project - Sta published recreational sheries data systems described earlier, an article, CDFW Celebrates More Than 10 Years of Improvements to the California In 2015, CRFS samplers documented catches of warmwater sh rarely seen o California, such Recreational Fisheries Survey, in the Marine as this Colorado snapper. CDFW photo by R. Denton Management News blog (bit.ly/1XuIlhS). Sta presented two posters at the American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting highlighting improvements to CRFS over the last decade. Improvements include:
• Developing a state-of-the-art data system to manage CRFS data and 13 improved estimation algorithms. Data and Technology Division and Marine Region sta allows CPFV operators to complete and submit the continued development and maintenance of a data required logs electronically. The testing and subsequent system for CRFS catch, e ort, biological and spatial pilot program for the CPFV electronic logs resulted in data, and estimates. The system includes a centralized 13,059 logs being successfully submitted. This represents relational database to store information, a data entry approximately 35 percent of the 37,700 CPFV logs system with built-in error checks, validation routines to submitted for 2015. A regulatory package is expected improve data accuracy, and automated reports. The data to be completed and approved in mid-April 2016 that system has increased e ciency, improved data accuracy authorizes the use of electronic logs. Sta also recorded and provided the exibility to align data capture with and produced tutorial training videos for using the changing management needs. CDFW, California Fish and electronic log application. These videos are available Game Commission, Paci c Fishery Management Council, online (bit.ly/1OUAOro). Visit the CDFW website at apps. International Paci c Halibut Commission, and National wildlife.ca.gov/marinelogs/ for more information about Marine Fisheries Service all used CRFS data and estimates CDFW electronic logs. for sheries management during 2015. Applications included in-season monitoring for species of concern, Paci c Recreational Fisheries Information Network developing harvest guidelines, stock assessments, (RecFIN) – Sta submitted all CRFS estimates to RecFIN and regulatory analyses, and making other critical on a monthly basis (RecFIN provides a centralized data management decisions. system to house recreational sheries information from California, Oregon and Washington). Sta represented Sta completed the last major hurdle in transitioning California on the RecFIN’s technical committee, data and CRFS from the Paci c States Marine Fisheries Commission technology sub-committee, and chaired the statistical by producing estimates for beaches and banks. Sta are sub-committee. Through these committees, sta support now calculating CRFS estimates for all modes. Visit the RecFIN e orts to coordinate coastwide on the collection CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/ of marine recreational n sh data and procedures for Recreational-Fisheries-Data for more information about estimating catch, e ort, and participation. Visit the CDFW recreational shery data analysis and survey development. website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/CRFS/ Additional-Information#data for more information about Marine Fisheries Statistical Unit – Sta collected, RecFIN. processed, and audited commercial shery landings data, including landing receipts, commercial passenger Statistical and Technical Support – Sta provided shing vessel logbooks, spiny lobster logbooks, statistical and technical support to various projects and transportation receipts. Approximately 56,000 related to the management and restoration of sh stocks. commercial landing receipts were received and processed Support included: in 2015. This is approximately 15 percent fewer than in previous years. Data have not yet been fully analyzed to • A review of sampling design for collecting blue n determine the cause(s) of the decline, however fewer tuna length and weight data landings of Dungeness crab, market squid, and Paci c • Advice on use of CRFS data and estimates sardine probably caused the downturn. Sta produced • Reviewing a number of publications that used CRFS and posted the 2014 California commercial landings data and estimates report on the CDFW website. • GIS analyses of CRFS spatial data for yellowtail and giant sea bass Sta designed, ordered, and distributed all paper • Statistical advice on analyzing aerial survey data landing receipt and commercial passenger shing • Designing a study to test the impact of a pre-notice vessel (CPFV) logs for constituent use. In addition, sta on response rates for a telephone survey processed commercial shery data requests received from commercial shing license holders and other Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/ authorized requestors. Marine/Recreational-Fisheries-Data for more information about sheries statistics and analyses. In 2015, sta were actively involved in developing an electronic log for CPFVs. This web-based log application 14 4. Habitat Conservation Program
Advisory Groups – Sta represented West Coast and reviewed over 600 environmental documents. shery managers on the California Current Acidi cation The review e ort included over 75 CEQA documents, Network steering committee, and provided input to the 200 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers public notices, organization on the informational needs of state managers 200 monitoring reports, 35 invasive species survey regarding ocean acidi cation. Sta also participated on reports, and 50 permits from various agencies. Topics the Resources Agency Sea Grant Advisory Panel. reviewed included: wave energy, desalination plant impacts, power plant impacts, dredging impacts, beach Agreements for Sharing Con dential Data – Six non- nourishment projects, contaminant site remediation, disclosure agreements were developed to allow non- mitigation projects, California Endangered Species government shery and socioeconomics scientists to Act impacts including incidental take permits, tribal incorporate con dential state sheries data into their concerns, State Water Resources Control Board policy project analyses. In addition, sta continued to provide review, arti cial reefs, mitigation proposals, eelgrass con dential data to NOAA Fisheries scientists for use in restoration, invasive species control projects, scienti c the management of West Coast sheries by the Paci c collection permits, aquaculture projects, and dock and Fishery Management Council. pier construction impacts. In addition, sta participated in the review and development of several U.S. Navy and Climate Change Activities – Sta participated on U.S. Air Force Integrated Natural Resource Management the Climate-Smart Adaptation Working Group of the Plans for locations including San Diego Bay Naval Base, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary to develop Vandenberg Air Force Base, and Camp Pendleton. Visit strategies for addressing climate change in several the CDFW website at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/ ecosystems along the north-central California coast. Environmental-Review for more information about The resulting report including these strategies will be statewide environmental review. presented to the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council in March 2016. In addition, Environmental Review Coordination and sta worked with California Ocean Science Trust sta to Collaboration – Sta worked closely with other produce a work plan for an Ocean Protection Council- agencies, applicants, and CDFW regions to coordinate funded project that will, through the e orts of an Ocean environmental review activities. Review activities Protection Council Science Advisory Panel working group, included: develop a climate and sheries guidance document for • Surveying eelgrass in the Albion River watershed, the Marine Region. Information from this document will Humboldt Bay, Freshwater Slough, Smith River be used to incorporate climate considerations into the Estuary and Morro Bay Marine Life Management Act Master Plan amendment. • Collecting water quality data in Morro Bay, Smith Sta gave a presentation about climate change impacts River Estuary, and Humboldt Bay on natural resources at a University of California Irvine workshop on fostering climate resilient coastal communities. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Climate- Science/Activities for more information about CDFW climate change activities.
Environmental Review – Sta worked on a wide variety of projects, permits, and statewide plans in 2015. Sta participated in over 60 pre-project review meetings
Seagrass survey under way in Humboldt Bay 15 CDFW photo by R. Garwood plan to determine impacts to long n smelt from hydraulic dredging operations in San Francisco Bay. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/ Conservation/Environmental- Review for information about statewide environmental review.
Marine Protected Area (MPA) Outreach – Sta provided information about California’s network of marine protected Sta wrote an incidental take permit amendment that would ensure the environmental e ects from the areas (MPAs) to the public implosion of pier E3 (San Francisco Bay Bridge) were monitored and that appropriate mitigation actions while coordinating with were identi ed. CDFW photo by A. Aarreberg other CDFW projects and • Drafting a manuscript on all known long n smelt partner organizations on similar e orts to explain MPA data for areas north of San Francisco Bay regulations, boundary coordinates, and the science • Participating in multiple interagency meetings on behind the MPA network design. Outreach occurred in the proposed Broad Beach Shoreline Protection and a number of ways, including during presentations and Dune Restoration Project in Malibu forums, distribution of printed materials, informational • Assisting in the development of a statewide policy panels and signage, email correspondence, Web content, for desalination plant impacts as part of the State one-on-one discussions, and classroom curricula. Water Board’s Interagency Panel • Providing input to assist in the nalization of Sta worked at large sports shows and ocean-related a comprehensive eelgrass management plan public events from Trinidad to San Diego, such as the proposed by the city of Newport Beach for lower Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle, Boat and Travel shows, and Newport Bay gave presentations at MPA Collaborative forums in the • Participating as a CDFW Mitigation Banking Team northern and southern parts of the state, and other member venues. Sta answered MPA-related questions, and • Collaborating with representatives from academia responded directly to public inquiries by phone and to develop beach nourishment impact assessment through two dedicated email accounts, AskMarine@ tools for grunion, beach wrack, rocky intertidal and wildlife.ca.gov and [email protected]. subtidal habitats, eelgrass, surf grass and Pismo clams To help ensure compliance with regulations in e ect • Participating on the statewide and regional Coastal since October 1, 2014, sta applied corrective stickers to Sediment Management Workgroup teams 11,827 MPA guide books. Sta updated and arranged for • Participating on the Los Angeles Dredge Material printing of 10,000 posters, 16,000 guide books, and 45,000 Management Team brochures. In addition to making these materials available • Drafting and nalizing a major amendment to online and at events, sta canvassed likely distributors and the CalTrans Bay Bridge Incidental Take Permit supplied 370 o ces, stores, harbors and other appropriate for the implosion of Pier E3. This amendment locations throughout California with 27,258 guide books, included the development and implementation 31,811 brochures, and 1,600 posters for public display and of a comprehensive monitoring plan and the distribution. Distribution centers included CDFW o ces; identi cation of appropriate mitigation for potential other local, state, and federal government o ces; tribes; project impacts sporting goods stores; non-pro t businesses; commercial • Submitting comprehensive comments and shing enterprises; scuba and ecotourism groups; harbors, recommendations for a proposed aquaculture and individuals, among others. expansion project in Humboldt/Arcata Bay • Participating in the review of proposed o shore In coordination with CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division aquaculture projects and the O ce of Communication, Education and • Participating in the development of a monitoring Outreach, sta contributed MPA content to the annual 16 ocean sport shing regulations booklet and commercial non-government organizations to develop a Marine shing regulations digest. Sta also reviewed printed Resource companion plan to help coordinate agency and materials, signage, and other outreach materials created constituent actions needed to implement the Marine by non-CDFW organizations, and coordinated with Province section of the State Wildlife Action Plan. Visit the CDFW Law Enforcement Division and the Statewide MPA CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/swap for more information Management Project to provide input and guidance about the State Wildlife Action Plan and associated for Marine Life Management Act outreach, and Master companion plans. Plan updates for the Marine Life Protection Act. Working closely with the CDFW Data and Technology Division, Statewide Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management sta also streamlined and improved MPA content and Monitoring – Sta continued management of the for migration to CDFW’s newly formatted website. largest science-guided and stakeholder-driven network Downloadable PDF copies of all guides, brochures, of MPAs in North America, utilizing a partnership-based MPA overview sheets and the poster were included approach for monitoring and research, outreach and in the comprehensive website migration, along with education, enforcement and compliance, and policy and all MPA regulatory, management, research, and other permitting. information. Partnership-based Coordination Activities – Sta Sta organized and guided the design and installation continue to work closely with the Fish and Game of four informational panels in a kiosk that included Commission, Ocean Protection Council, Ocean Science information about shing regulations, sh identi cation, Trust, and other state, federal, and public partners. MPAs, and the local harbor at Pillar Point Harbor in San Mateo County. Sta contributed to the development of the MPA Statewide Leadership Team Work Plan for 2015-2018 A statewide MPA signage project installed 195 (bit.ly/1XjUJBF) as part of the Ocean Protection Council’s interpretive and regulatory panels along the coast from MPA Statewide Leadership Team. Del Norte to San Diego counties. Sta coordinated with partners, other agencies and non-government Sta and the Ocean Protection Council’s Science Advisory organizations to review and re ne the signage, as well as Team continued to develop an ecological impact assess- other interpretive panels, online tools, and docent guides. ment model that will assist in understanding and estimat- ing ecological impacts from scienti c collecting in MPAs, The rst full year of partnership between CDFW and with a goal of shielding MPAs against cumulative impacts California State Parks to teach students about MPAs from research activities or projects. Sta are planning a was achieved with the Parks Online Resources for June 2016 pilot study using the new assessment tool. Teachers and Students (PORTS) program. This program uses video-conference technology to connect content Sta continued to update the Master Plan for MPAs. experts in parks with California classrooms. In the 2014- Since 2013, CDFW has worked closely with other state 2015 academic year, PORTS delivered MPA-related and federal partners to update the 2008 Master Plan by programming to 14,000 California students. In 2015, sta worked with State Parks to develop curriculum featuring a new location, Point Lobos State Marine Reserve. Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/MPAs for more information about California MPA outreach.
State Wildlife Action Plan Update - Sta nalized their targets, goals, and strategies for the Marine Province section of the State Wildlife Action Plan update, and worked with contractors to develop text for this section. The nal Plan was provided to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in October 2015. Sta also participated in a collaborative e ort with other agencies and Four-panel informative kiosk installed at Pillar Point Harbor. 17 photo courtesy San Mateo Harbor District Title 14. The proposed regulations will be presented for public comment in late 2016.
Following an extensive review process by the Baseline MPA Monitoring Program management team (comprised of state, federal and other partners) and a scienti c review panel, nal technical documents for the nine distinct South Coast Baseline MPA Monitoring Program projects were made available in April 2015 (bit.ly/1rF3wC9). The baseline data gathered from the projects China rock sh as seen through the lens of a remotely operated vehicle. Image taken during MPA visual surveys o northern California. CDFW/MARE photo were available prior to the Refugio oil spill, and proved invaluable during the assessment of pre-impact conditions to help assess damages. setting a statewide foundation for MPA management. The updated Master Plan is a forward-looking programmatic Sta collaborated with state, federal, and other partners, guidance document which operationalizes the tasks and principle investigators involved in north central and activities the Marine Life Protection Program will California MPA baseline monitoring to complete the State undertake to meet statutory goals of the Marine Life of the California North Central Coast report in November Protection Act. The Fish and Game Commission has 2015 (bit.ly/24J69RI). scheduled an adoption hearing for the updated Master Plan in April 2016. To more precisely align MPA boundaries with our coastline, sta completed site visits and GPS surveys MPA Monitoring and Research Activities - Sta deployed a for all coastal MPAs statewide. In total, 122 coordinates remotely operated vehicle to conduct visual underwater were re ned for accuracy, retaining the original extent surveys of the MPAs and rocky reefs o north central of most MPAs. However, in some cases improvements California, resulting in high de nition video covering 76 were made to accommodate tricky sections of coastline kilometers of quantitative transects from 24 sites inside (e.g. realign boundary to anchor on originally intended and outside of MPAs. This was the fourth survey funded o shore rock, etc.). In addition to surveying coordinate by the Coastal Impact Assistance Program. Sta presented positions, an annotated photo library and database was select results of the four surveys at the annual meeting of created to document the boundary locations visually. In the American Fisheries Society in Portland, Oregon and at August 2015, CDFW proposed regulation amendments to the Western Society of Naturalist meeting in Sacramento. the Fish and Game Commission to re ect the re ned MPA Preliminary results from the most recent north central boundaries and to clarify regulatory language to improve California survey show sharp increases in abundance network compliance and enforceability. The Commission of several rock sh species (brown, quillback, china and adopted the proposed regulations in December 2015, canary) across all sites compared to 2011 surveys. There with an anticipated e ective date of March 1, 2016. also appears to be increased abundance of giant red sea cucumbers and both red and purple sea urchin in all Scienti c Presentations and Public Outreach – Sta gave locations. Further analysis of the survey data will test for two oral presentations, hosted three poster presentations, MPA e ects as well as additional changes in abundance. and answered questions at an exhibitors booth at the Western Society of Naturalists annual meeting. Topics for Speci c Management Activities – Sta is engaged in presentations included: Status of California’s Redesigned CDFW’s e ort to overhaul the antiquated scienti c Marine Protected Areas Network, and Survey of Rocky collecting permit program. This e ort has involved Habitats Inside and Outside of California’s Marine Protected numerous internal meetings, and a series of external Areas Using a Remotely Operated Vehicle. Topics for posters public scoping meetings throughout the state to solicit included: Violations for the North Central Coast Marine input on the proposed approaches for overhauling Protected Areas 2010-2014, Managing California’s Marine the program. The programmatic changes will involve Protected Area Network, and MarineBIOS: An Interactive re-drafting regulations in California Code of Regulations Web Mapping Tool for California Marine Protected Area 18 Management, Monitoring, and Enforcement. Abstracts for in the Marine Management News blog (bit.ly/1T4lWTD). the presentations and posters are located online at Articles highlight MPAs throughout the statewide bit.ly/1T2W3an. network. The rst article, featuring South La Jolla State Marine Reserve, was published in August 2015. Anacapa Sta completed an 80-page informational report Island and Point Reyes marine reserves were also featured titled Overview of Alternative MPA Proposals: Marine in 2015. Life Protection Act Initiative 2004-2012 (bit.ly/1VSgl8S). This report provides important historical information Sta completed 72 di erent maps for inclusion on regarding the range of alternative MPA proposals along informational signs posted along the entire coast in with the recommendations considered and reviewed collaboration with the California Sanctuary Foundation. by the California Fish and Game Commission (but not Visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/ ultimately selected) during the MPA design and siting Marine/MPAs for more information about California MPA process from 2004-2012. management and monitoring.
Sta began writing articles for a new series called Exploring California’s Marine Protected Areas, published
19 5. Administration
Marine Region administrative sta bind together all the and track and process all out-of-state travel and training working parts of the expansive Marine Region, which requests, while managing and staying within the extends from the border with Mexico all the way to Regional budget – and that hardly scratches the surface. Oregon, through administrative guidance and support. It’s no easy task. Administrative sta work tirelessly Administrative sta also help various sta conform to behind the scenes to support Region sta , making sure State laws and CDFW policies as they work to achieve they have the tools to get the job done. their project goals. From San Diego to Crescent City, Marine Region scientists, biologists, and others rely on Administrative sta help to hire all of the Marine Region’s the services provided by Marine Region administrative temporary and permanent sta , manage storage and sta – without whose help it would be a much tougher o ce facilities for sta and vessels, procure supplies for job to protect, mainatain, enhance, and restore eld work, scienti c cruises, o ces, and laboratories, California’s marine ecosystems for all to enjoy.
For more information about CDFW’s Marine Region, visit the CDFW website at wildlife.ca.gov/regions/marine
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