California Fish and Game Commission Emergency Meeting

[Teufelshunde]

For those of us interested in fishing I thought I would share that Tomorrow 4-9-2020 at 8:30am they are meeting to discuss the fishing season openers that are around the corner in CA. they have a number to call if your interested in listening/ participating.
Link below (hope it works).

https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2020/04/07/california-fish-and-game-commission-to-hold-emergency-meeting/

[Gene Morris]

The meeting was canceled after about three minute of chaos. Over 500 participants signed on and created a chaotic situation. It's embarrassing to think that fellow Californians can act this crude and rude. Below is a link to the article and an audio of the meeting.

https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2020/apr/9/audio-what-joke-california-fish-and-game-commissio/

Warning some crude language.

Gene

[Teufelshunde]

I called at 8:30 and there was a message that said meeting was full and I’m glad it was so I didn’t have to hear that mess!!
Hopefully they’ll get the phone system in order.

[krc]

Staggering incompetence. Sure - this is an emergency situation but that is why all agencies are supposed to have contingency plans and be able to work business as close to normal as possible. Of course you can have technical difficulties, but there should have been tests/trials well before this mess. Just - wow. It seems like they had never done any sort of dial in conference in their life.... Someone, who is getting paid no doubt a great salary, should have been prepared for the volume, set call expectations with everyone on mute, and handled the meeting in an orderly and professional matter.

[Teufelshunde]

[Gene Morris]

It has been scheduled for sometime this week

[Teufelshunde]

Meeting has been rescheduled for April 15

[Pacificcoast101]

It didn't sound any different than the public hearings for the Marine Protected Areas a few years ago. Each meeting was pack with members of United Anglers who shouted down every comment that Fish & Game officials tried to make.

[Teufelshunde]

I have large conference calls at work 2-3 thousand people listen and the company puts everyone on mute on their end, if you have a statement or question you press *1 to get the operator and give your name and where you are calling from and the floor is yours.
We will see if they fixed it!
Fish on !!!

[Gene Morris]

The MPA hearings for the Northern California Zone. Went very smoothly.
After seeing what happened in the Southern Zones, and the raw deal that the fishing community received. We formed a non-profit the, Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers Inc. (HASA) to deal with the MPA group. Our area in Eureka is fairly unique, the only rock fishing area from our port is a 16 to 20 NM run. If things went like they did in the South we would lose any chance for rock fish and lingcod. HASA invited the MPA scientist to form a collaborative with HASA to develop an acceptable MPA Zone that didn't eliminate our fishing access. After 3 months of workshops and meeting we all came to an agreement as to the boundaries of an MPA. Everyone was happy and when it came to the public meeting it became a love fest and we got a very acceptable MPA one that did not intrude on our fishing grounds.
This collaborative is still active giving updates as to what is going on in the MPA.

These folks are willing to work with the public if given a chance.

HASA still exists today and advocates for our fishing rights and seasons with the California DFW, the PFMC and the International Halibut Commission with seats on the Bottom fish council and the Salmon Task force.


Gene

[journey on]

There was an article in the LA Times about the Ca Fish and Game meeting. Apparently United Anglers thought all fishing was going to be canceled and started yelling.

Gene has pointed out how a proactive cooperative approach can get better results and lead to a positive outcome, as well as better understanding.

Boris