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THE CALIFORNIA FISHERIES ATLASJune 30, 2008Purpose and ScopeThe aim of the California Fisheries Atlas is to provide ‘fishery-at-a-glance’ profiles of major commercial fisheries throughout California in order to better understand their related ecological, economic, and management issues. The fishery profiles are structured around species to reflect existing management. All summary annual commercial landings data shown in the charts at the end of each profile come from the PacFIN database, and may not reflect season-specific totals. A number of species in California – for instance southern sea basses, surf perch, and corbina – are targeted exclusively by recreational fisheries; where applicable, the recreational components of these fisheries are included in the Atlas. This Atlas is a living database. We therefore expect to update its information as necessary, and add additional profiles of important fisheries identified by the Department of Fish and Game, fishermen, and others as priorities for management attention. Overview of State Commercial FisheriesThere are over 285 species fished and landed commercially and/or recreationally along the California coast and market names and categories vary. Commercial fishery landings can be grouped into four main types: groundfishes, coastal pelagic fishes, highly migratory fishes, and invertebrates. Within these four broad groupings, there are 16-18 recognized ‘fisheries’ – which include about 145 species of finfish and invertebrates – that consistently account for large commercial landing volumes and/or values, and have a history of management attention. California fisheries are valuable assets, in both monetary and intrinsic terms. While fisheries now account for only about 2 % of California’s ocean economy, landings were once over 500,000 metric tons per year, valued at over $600 million annually. Commercial fish landings declined dramatically; by 2007, they had dropped to 173,000 metric tons valued at $117 million. This decline in aggregate value statewide is reflected in the lower volumes of high-value species, as well as the large volumes of lower value species (e.g. squid and coastal pelagics). However, this declining value trend does not hold for a growing live-fish market, and many invertebrates. In fact, invertebrates have accounted for more than half the value of total commercial landings in California since 1999. California boasts a number of fishing ports along its coastline, ranging from the urban ports of San Diego and Los Angeles to the more rural harbors of Morro Bay, Bodega Bay, and Crescent City. Participation in commercial fishing varies by port, but on the whole is in decline statewide. The California Department of Fish and Game issues a variety of general commercial fishing permits and licenses, including Resident and Non-Resident commercial fishing licenses, commercial boat registrations, commercial aircraft registrations (spotter planes), and Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel (CPFV) licenses. All but the last of these have shown a decline in numbers issued from 1998 – 2007; general commercial licenses issued in 2007 were about half the number issued ten years prior. Finally, the current fishery management regime is complex. The Marine Life Management Act provides overall mandates and guidance, requiring that all state fisheries be managed under Fishery Management Plans. There are currently 3 State Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) that cover 21 species, and one Recovery and Management Plan covering 5 species of abalone, for which commercial take is now prohibited. Where there is no state FMP, regulations are promulgated by the State Legislature, the California Fish and Game Commission, the California Department of Fish and Game, or some combination thereof. Many state fisheries have some degree of overlap with federal jurisdiction. Some of the fisheries profiled are also covered by National Marine Fisheries Service jurisdiction through Federal FMPs in the Pacific region for Groundfish, Salmon, Highly Migratory Species, and Coastal Pelagic Species. ProfilesFederal Groundfish BibliographySelected referencesCalifornia Code of Regulations, Title 14 Natural Resources. Division 1 Fish and Game Commission – Department of Fish and Game. California Fish and Game Code, especially §§ 7050-7090; 7600-9055. Cascorbi, A. 2004. Seafood Watch Seafood Report, Spiny lobsters Volume II: California spiny lobster. Available http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp. Accessed June 2008. Ish, T. and Stroman, F. 2006. Seafood Watch Seafood Report: California halibut. Available http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp. Accessed May 2008. National Marine Fisheries Service Northwest Science Center. 2007. Data report and summary analysis of Limited Entry trawl permits. West Coast Observer Program report. Available http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/fram/observer/index.cfm. Accessed June 2008. Dorval, E. et. al. 2007. Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus) stock assessment for U.S. management in the 2007-08 fishing season. Submitted to the Pacific Fishery Management Council June 2007. Available http://www.pcouncil.org/cps/cpssafe/0607safe.html. Hill, K. et. al. 2006. Assessment of the Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax caerulea) population for U.S. management in 2007. Submitted to the Pacific Fishery Management Council June 2007. Available http://www.pcouncil.org/cps/cpssafe/0607safe.html. Pacific Fishery Management Council 2006. Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan. Available http://www.pcouncil.org/cps/cpsfmp.html Accessed June 2008. Pacific Fishery Management Council 2008. The Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, as Amended through Amendment 19. Available http://www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/gffmp.html. Accessed May 2008. Pacific Fishery Management Council 2007. Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species, as Amended. Available http://www.pcouncil.org/hms/hmsfmp.html. Accessed June 2008. Pacific Fishery Management Council 2003. Pacific Coast Salmon Plan. Available http://www.pcouncil.org/salmon/salfmp.html. Accessed June 2008. Kildow et al. 2005. California’s Ocean Economy: Report to the California Resources Agency. Prepared by the National Ocean Economics Program. Available http://www.resources.ca.gov/press_documents/CA_Ocean_Econ_Report.pdf. Mason, J. 2004. Historical patterns from 74 years of commercial landings from California waters. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) 45: 180-190. Leet, W. S. 2001. California’s Living Marine Resources: A Status Report. California Department of Fish and Game/ Resources Agency. Available http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/status/. State of California Resources Agency and Department of Fish and Game Marine Region. 2001. The Master Plan: A Guide for the Development of Fishery Management Plans, as directed by the Marine Life Management Act of 1998. Available http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/masterplan/index.asp. California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region. 2002. Nearshore Fishery Management Plan. Available http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/nfmp/index.asp. California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region. 2006. Update on Nearshore Fishery Management Plan Implementation. Available http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/nfmp/index.asp. California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region. 2005. Final Market Squid Fishery Management Plan. Available http://www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/msfmp/index.asp. Pomeroy, C. and M. FitzSimmons. 2001. Socio-economic organization of the California Market Squid fishery: assessment for optimal resource management. California Sea Grant project Final Report. Hankin, D.G., et. al. 2005. California’s Dungeness Crab: Conserving the resource and Increasing the Net Economic Value of the fishery. California Sea Grant College Program Project Completion Report. Available http://repositories.cdlib.org/csgc/rcr/Fisheries04_05. Dewees, C.G. et. al. 2004. Racing for crabs…Costs and management California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Region. 2007. Review of some California fisheries for 2006: Coastal Pelagic Finfish, Market Squid, Dungeness Crab, Spot Prawn, Highly Migratory Species, Ocean Salmon, California Halibut, Nearshore Live-fishes, Cabezon, Surfperches, and Leopard Shark. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) 48: 10-32. Selected WebsitesCalifornia Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Marine Region DFG Marine Region Commercial Fishing Digest 2007, 2008 pdf, website DFG Marine Region Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations California Fish and Game Commission Pacific Fishery Management Council Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, data programs:
Seafood Watch, a Monterey Bay Aquarium program Environmental Defense Fund Seafood Selector Blue Ocean Institute Guide to Ocean Friendly Seafood |
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