Section 7059 Of Chapter 2. Marine Fisheries Generally From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 6. >> Part 1.7. >> Chapter 2.
7059
. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) Successful marine life and fishery management is a
collaborative process that requires a high degree of ongoing
communication and participation of all those involved in the
management process, particularly the commission, the department, and
those who represent the people and resources that will be most
affected by fishery management decisions, especially fishery
participants and other interested parties.
(2) In order to maximize the marine science expertise applied to
the complex issues of marine life and fishery management, the
commission and the department are encouraged to continue to, and to
find creative new ways to, contract with or otherwise effectively
involve Sea Grant staff, marine scientists, economists, collaborative
factfinding process and dispute resolution specialists, and others
with the necessary expertise at colleges, universities, private
institutions, and other agencies.
(3) The benefits of the collaborative process required by this
section apply to most marine life and fishery management activities
including, but not limited to, the development and implementation of
research plans, marine managed area plans, fishery management plans,
and plan amendments, and the preparation of fishery status reports
such as those required by Section 7065.
(4) Because California is a large state with a long coast, and
because travel is time consuming and costly, the involvement of
interested parties shall be facilitated, to the extent practicable,
by conducting meetings and discussions in the areas of the coast and
in ports where those most affected are concentrated.
(b) In order to fulfill the intent of subdivision (a), the
commission and the department shall do all of the following:
(1) Periodically review marine life and fishery management
operations with a view to improving communication, collaboration, and
dispute resolution, seeking advice from interested parties as part
of the review.
(2) Develop a process for the involvement of interested parties
and for factfinding and dispute resolution processes appropriate to
each element in the marine life and fishery management process.
Models to consider include, but are not limited to, the take
reduction teams authorized under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16
U.S.C. Sec. 1361 et seq.) and the processes that led to improved
management in the California herring, sea urchin, prawn, angel shark,
and white seabass fisheries.
(3) Consider the appropriateness of various forms of fisheries
comanagement, which involves close cooperation between the department
and fishery participants, when developing and implementing fishery
management plans.
(4) When involving fishery participants in the management process,
give particular consideration to the gear used, involvement of sport
or commercial sectors or both sectors, and the areas of the coast
where the fishery is conducted in order to ensure adequate
involvement.