Emergency amendment to sections 5.79, 5.80, 27.90, and 27.92 related to White Sturgeon
Summary
SCH Number
2023100870
Public Agency
California Fish and Game Commission
(CDFGC)
Document Title
Emergency amendment to sections 5.79, 5.80, 27.90, and 27.92 related to White Sturgeon
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/30/2023
Document Description
During July and August 2022, the San Francisco Bay region experienced a major harmful algal bloom (HAB) that resulted in significant mortality of fishes, including White Sturgeon. Due to the HAB and the data collected from sturgeon report cards indicating less fish are being released, the impact on the White Sturgeon population is estimated to be significant. Immediate steps are necessary to significantly reduce the White Sturgeon exploitation rate to sustainable levels and to minimize harassment in order to protect the surviving population and maintain a recreational fishery in the future.
Contact Information
Name
Melissa Miller-Henson
Agency Name
California Fish and Game Commission
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Antioch, Brentwood, Elk Grove, Lodi, Manteca, Pittsburg, Rancho Cordova, Rio Vista, Sacramento, Stockton, Tracy
Counties
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Yolo
Regions
Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area
Other Location Info
Waterways where White Sturgeon are found.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 7 and 8, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, sections 15307 and 15308
Reasons for Exemption
The emergency regulation amends sections 5.79, 5.80, 27.90 and 27.92, Title 14, CCR, to close all harvest of White Sturgeon starting January 1, 2024. A catch-and-release fishery will be allowed, but harvest tags will not be issued for 2024 and the bag limit for fish will be reduced to zero. During July and August 2022, the San Francisco Bay region experienced a major HAB that resulted in significant mortality of fishes, including sturgeon. The Department recorded over 850 sturgeon carcasses, the majority legal-sized or larger (J. Hobbs, CDFW Region 3, unpublished data). Based on carcass studies and fish kills of other species of sturgeon, it is thought that only a small percentage of the fish killed floated long enough to be detected (Fox et al. 2020). The absolute magnitude of this impact on the White Sturgeon population is unknown, but is thought to be significant. Emergency action is necessary to significantly reduce the fishery exploitation rate of White Sturgeon to sustainable levels and to minimize harassment and handling, in order to protect the surviving population and maintain a recreational fishery in the future.
The emergency regulation amends sections 5.79, 5.80, 27.90 and 27.92, Title 14, CCR, to close all harvest of White Sturgeon effective immediately. The Commission routinely adopts regulations for recreational inland sport fish management. During July and August 2022, the San Francisco Bay region experienced a major HAB that resulted in significant mortality of fishes, including sturgeon. The Department recorded over 850 sturgeon carcasses, the majority legal-sized or larger (J. Hobbs, CDFW Region 3, unpublished data). Based on carcass studies and fish kills of other species of sturgeon, it is thought that only a small percentage of the fish killed floated long enough to be detected (Fox et al. 2020). The absolute magnitude of this impact on the White Sturgeon population is unknown, but is thought to be significant. White Sturgeon are long lived, potentially in excess of 100 years, with most reaching maturity by approximately 14 15 years. Successful recruitment to the adult population is uncommon, occurring approximately every 6-7 years, and is highly correlated with above normal water years. The abundance of legal-sized White Sturgeon has declined considerably since the 1980s. Emergency action is necessary to significantly reduce the fishery exploitation rate of White Sturgeon to sustainable levels and to minimize harassment and handling in order to protect the surviving population, which is part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta’s biodiverse environment.
See NOE attachment for additional information.
County Clerks
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Yolo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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