Recreational Take of Barred Sand Bass
Summary
SCH Number
2025050745
Public Agency
California Fish and Game Commission
(CDFGC)
Document Title
Recreational Take of Barred Sand Bass
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/16/2025
Document Description
The approved project reduces the bag and possession limit for barred sand bass. The limit on the take and possession of barred sand bass is reduced to 4 barred sand bass year-round, with a sunset provision of June 1, 2028. The limit reduction would allow the species to recover, specifically during the spawning months when barred sand bass are most vulnerable to fishing, thereby benefiting the species and the overall marine ecosystem through maintenance of marine biodiversity.
Contact Information
Name
Melissa Miller-Henson
Agency Name
California Fish and Game Commission
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Counties
Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Orange, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Ventura
Regions
Statewide
Waterways
California state ocean waters
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 7 and 8, Sections 15307 and 15308, Title 14, California Code of Regulations
Reasons for Exemption
The rulemaking helps the California Department of Fish and Wildlife carry out its duty to protect marine resources in state waters. For decades, barred sand bass (Paralabrax nebulifer) ranked as one of the most commonly caught and retained marine sport fishes in southern California. Barred sand bass form large spawning aggregations in the summer months; commercial passenger fishing vessels (CPFVs)and private fishing boats target these aggregations, as this is when the fish are easily found and caught. CPFV landings declined in the late 2000s and have remained under 30,000 landed individuals annually since 2016. This lack of recovery could be due to several factors including continued fishing pressure during the summer months when barred sand bass form spawning aggregations and intermittent recruitment of young-of-the-year. The proposed regulation amendments are intended to allow the recovery of barred sand bass by reducing the overall number of barred sand bass fishers can take and by reducing fishing effort during their spawning season when they are most susceptible to fishing.? Therefore, Class 7 and 8 exemptions apply because reducing the take and possession of barred sand bass will allow the barred sand bass population to recover, maintain and enhance the marine environment generally by assuring marine biodiversity, and maintain an essential part of the marine ecosystem.
County Clerks
Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Los Angeles, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Orange, San Benito, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Ventura
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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