The organization CalTrout says that Senate Bill 1148 will not change the funding of California fish hatcheries and will provide $1 million for capital improvements to hatcheries while also protecting wild trout. Former Mono Senator Dave Cogdill says SB 1148 will “result in an ever-diminishing experience for anglers while requiring them to pay ever-increasing license fees.” Cogdill says the bill will place wild trout over hatchery programs.
Negotiations over SB 1148 have resulted in some changes, but the view of the impacts of the bill remain widely polarized. CalTrout Conservation Director Curtis Knight reports that negotiations over the past five weeks have left both sides not getting all they wanted. He claims that the new bill improves on the original fisheries legislation, Assembly Bill 7, which then Senator Cogdill had attained.
Knight sent Sierra Wave Media CalTrout’s legislative update on SB 1148 (see position at www.caltrout.org) which says hatcheries will not lose money and that Fish and Game can look to private hatcheries to meet production coals. CalTrout claims that stocking in put-and-take fisheries like the Eastern Sierra will be improved under SB 1148 and that the bill maintains the target goal of 2.75 pounds of stocked fish per licensed angler. They do say that native trout will be protected with establishment of a special program and the hiring of seven new Heritage and Wild Trout positions within Fish and Game.
In a letter written to the California Senate last Thursday, former Senator Cogdill says that “SB 1148 currently undermines the intent and purpose of AB 7 with regard to the State’s management of trout, both hatchery and wild.” Cogdill said that the bill would “still re-prioritize the mission at Fish and Game such that wild and native trout programs take priority over hatchery operations.”
Cogdill says the bill would also expand bureaucracy with little legislative oversight. He points to AB 7 as intended to require Fish and Game to focus on its hatcheries. Cogdill said that Fish and Game made it clear that they did not want to implement AB 7 and in seven years have not met the bill’s goals. Cogdill alleges that Fish and Game has not only failed to meet the mandates but has also “syphoned off an exorbitant 30% of the hatchery funds and unlawfully redirected $1.8 million of license fees for commercial fishing programs.”
Cogdill firmly contends that AB 7 should be given a proper chance before changing the system that he says until the last ten years or so has created an exceptional sports fishing program for anglers and local economies.
CalTrout says they hope the bill will pass the legislature this week and go to the Governor’s desk by Friday.
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It seems to me the area can serve the tourist industry with both outdoor activities and also cultural tourism.
Having lived in Mammoth Lakes for some time now, I can concur that I’ve never seen so many cultural events: festivals, concerts, food and wine tasting, etc. nor so many people in town. I understand the town is enjoying the best summer ever.
There truly is just about something offered for everybody’s tastes.
Actually, I am not the one who said the “number of fisherman are way down”, that was Steve. Angler license sales have remained fairly steady since 1970-2009. Average of 2,100,600.00 a year. http://www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/statistics/
My point was that it’s NOT Cal Trout’s fault that Steve’s perception is, “I can remember when the streams were stocked and everyone had a good time. Now there is hardly any fish to catch and the number of fishermen are way down.”
If angler numbers are truly down here locally… perhaps that is PRECISELY the reason for the AB7 and SB1148 bills that this whole article was about in the first place!
And to you, “the-times-they-are-a-changin” – very good points, thanks … while it’s great that Mammoth appears to be having, “the best summer ever”. Since I’m an optimist more than a pessimist, I think that we should indeed promote music festivals, concerts, Shakespeare in the woods, beer-tasting, wine and food, art festivals, etc etc…. why not expand our draw and interest?
But we should ALSO continue to promote our wonderful fishing heritage and history since many of the people who come here, to Mammoth, as well as Bridgeport, Lee Vining, June Lake, Convict Lake, Bishop are coming for the fishing. They may go to one of the other events at night, also!
To quote you, “They are attracting those that have money in these tough times.” So I would be willing to bet that if you polled the participants, who have money, in these music festivals, art shows, wine and food tasting events you would find that many ALSO come here for fishing… fly fishing especially. And those fly fishers are usually not camping, but staying in condo’s and hotels (T.O.T. tax) and they are mostly fishing catch & release (eating out for dinner at local restaurants) they buy expensive gear (retail shops) and many hire local fly fishing guides (the reason we have over 55 licensed guides in the region). So if the times are a changing, maybe its the demographic of anglers that we should consider.
Bill,
“maybe its the demographic of anglers that we should consider”
If you are suggesting subsidies for fisheries, etc. – I disagree.
If the fish industry is down, join the crowd. 4 of the 5 Mono County supervisors have a piece of Mammoth now, which has the most constituents, the highest population,and where most of the money for the entire county comes from.
Though I believe the county should look after its constituents, this should not be at the expense of the others.
Bill,
The intense manner in which you are aggressively pursuing this subject, and the length and degree of your numerous presentations on the subject, sounds exactly like what an elected official might do in lobbying for the subsidization of the fishing industry.
I would suggest the route to go would be through non-profit activity, conduct trade fairs, gatherings, etc. you might even consider a musical festival combined with food and drink (which has been highly successful in Mammoth Lakes) to solicit funds for your “wonderful fishing heritage and history” business and please do not expect the constituents who are not interested in fishing to subsidize the industry.
I can barely accept subsidizing the airline industry here in Mammoth, but where do you draw the line, Bill?
“Unfortunately times have changed,” Bill tells us. “… the number of fishermen are way down.”
Mammoth Lakes is having the best summer tourist season ever. While the lakes and streams may be empty, the hotels, restaurants, and other activities are booming. You can thank those community leaders for having the foresight to do what the other mountain communities (like Vail, Aspen, Park City, etc.) are doing. They are attracting those that have money in these tough times. They are doing it with art and music festivals, concerts, Shakespeare in the woods, beer-tasting, wine and food tasting, tequila-tasting, more concerts, more art festivals … Mammoth Lake’s best summer EVER!
“Unfortunately” for who?
…prove it…. show us the numbers…and I don’t mean your paycheck stub for the money you got to post that propaganda…
Steve, with all due respect, it’s definitely not Cal Trout’s fault, “Now there is hardly any fish to catch and the number of fishermen are way down.” This has absolutely nothing to do w/ Cal Trout.
I also remember a time when there was no Internet, cable TV, cell phones, texting, DVD’s and Blue Ray… I rode my bike everywhere and my folks didn’t worry if I didn’t come home until supper. I never wore a helmet and drank from a garden hose. Every kid owned at least a BB gun or .22 and we all went fishing!!! Unfortunately times have changed.
So what do you suggest that we give in to the enviornmental groups from Cal trout to The Center for Biological Diversity and live like what you have suggested? No cell phones, dvds, internet and computer??? I like to suggest you lead by example and shut off your computer and internet.
I think you missed the point which Bill was trying to make – that things do change.
BK
Thanks Ted for the good work. Keep fighting.
Cal trout, can you take your extremist views somewhere else. I can remember when the streams were stocked and everyone had a good time. Now there is hardly any fish to catch and the number of fishermen are way down.
Your agenda is doing nothing, but causing me to have a negative view towards enviornmental groups.