DCTF Meeting Agenda for October 26 and October 27, 2015

Meeting Agenda

Monday, October 26, 2015 at 8:30 AM
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 8:00 AM

Ukiah Valley Conference Center, Cabernet II Room
200 S School Street, Ukiah, CA 95482

Meeting Goals:

To discuss and potentially provide recommendations to inform current issues related the to Dungeness crab fishery, including whale entanglements in Dungeness crab fishing gear, the evaluation of the California commercial Dungeness crab trap limit program, California lost fishing gear recovery program, long-term functioning of an organization to support the Dungeness crab fishery, and current commercial regulations.
To forward Dungeness Crab Task Force (DCTF) recommendations to the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Fish and Game Commission via the DCTF’s legislatively mandated January 15, 2017 report and/or other interim reports.

Monday, October 26, 2015 8:30am

1. Welcome, introductions, agenda review

2. Updates from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on topics including, but not limited to, domoic acid and pre-season crab quality testing.

3. Discussion of the outcomes and outputs generated by the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group related to gear-whale interactions.

ACTION: Consideration and possible adoption of recommendation(s) related to the Dungeness Crab Fishing Gear Working Group.

4. Lunch

5. Update on the progress of the California commercial Dungeness crab trap limit program evaluation, including a presentation of data related to the California Dungeness crab fishery. DCTF discussions may include, but will not be limited to, review of commercial trap limit program to-date including questions for evaluation, addressing loopholes associated with replacement tags (both in-season and between seasons), etc.
Speakers: Christy Juhasz and Steve Riske, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Carrie Pomeroy, California Sea Grant/DCTF Member

ACTION: Consideration and possible adoption of recommendation(s) related to the Dungeness crab commercial trap limit program including, but not limited to, future data needs, monitoring and evaluation of the commercial Dungeness crab trap limit program, and the need for replacement tags in-season and between seasons.

6. Discussion of the design, funding, and implementation of a California lost fishing gear recovery program that works in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The DCTF may respond to the ideas generated by the DCTF Executive Committee at their September 2, 2015 meeting.

7. General public comment

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 8:00am

8. Welcome and recap of Day 1

9. Continued discussion of the design, funding, and implementation of a California lost fishing gear recovery program that works in cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

ACTION: Consideration and possible adoption of recommendation(s) related to the design, funding, and/or implementation of a California lost Dungeness crab fishing gear program.

10. Discussion of the long-term structure of the Dungeness crab fishery, including the potential need for an industry-led organizational body to inform the management of the California Dungeness crab fishery beyond the DCTF’s sunset in 2017.

ACTION: Consideration and possible adoption of a recommendation regarding the long-term functioning and/or organizational structure of the Dungeness crab fishery including, but not limited to, a request for the DCTF or an alternative group to investigate options for the industry’s review and consideration.

11. Conversation of current commercial Dungeness crab fishing regulations including, but not limited to, hardship waivers and the “96-hour rule.”

ACTION: Consideration and possible adoption of recommendation(s) related to waivers or modifications to the “96-hour rule.”

12. General public comment

13. Next steps

14. Adjourn

Agenda items may be taken out of order at the discretion of the DCTF Administrative Team. Limited copies of meeting materials will be provided at the meeting and will be posted to the DCTF website as soon as they are available.

Public Participation and Comment: Members of the public will be invited to provide comment following each agenda item; an opportunity to provide public comment on non-agenda topics will also be made available on each day of the meeting. To provide public comment, please fill out a “Request to Speak” card, which will be located at the entrance to the meeting room. A meeting summary will be made available via the DCTF website.

Questions about the meeting or agenda can be directed to info@dungenesscrabtaskforce.com or 805-845-9852. Any person who has a disability and requires reasonable accommodation to participate in this DCTF meeting should contact Rachelle Fisher (rachelle@strategicearth.com or 805-845-9852) no later than five days prior to meeting.
For more information about the DCTF please visit the DCTF website at https://opc.ca.gov/2009/04/dungeness-crab-task-force/