Section 710.7 Of Chapter 1. Organization And General Functions From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 1.
710.7
. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) The department continues to face serious funding instability
due to revenue declines from traditional user fees and taxes and the
addition of new and expanded program responsibilities.
(2) Historically, the recreational and commercial fishing industry
has funded much of the department's marine fisheries activities.
(3) As the state's population grows and development changes
historic land uses, fish and wildlife continue to be depleted,
necessitating a significant portion of the department's activities to
be directed toward protecting fish and wildlife for the benefit of
the people of the state.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to extend the current
user-based funding system by allocating a portion of the marine
resource protection costs to those who use and benefit from
recreational and commercial use of the marine resources.
(c) It is the Legislature's intent that, notwithstanding Section
711, the department shall cooperate with the Legislature,
recreational users, conservation organizations, the commercial
fishing industry, and other interested parties to identify and
propose new alternative sources of revenue to fund the department's
necessary marine conservation, restoration, and resources management,
and protection responsibilities.
(d) It is further the intent of the Legislature to identify new
funding sources and to secure those sources to adequately fund the
department's activities directed at protecting and managing wildlife
for the people of the state.