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Amend Sections 28.06 and 28.65, Title 14, CCR, Regarding Recreational Gear Restrictions for White Shark

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State & Local

Contract Overview

Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.

AI Contract Overview

The proposed amendments to Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 28.06 and 28.65, impose strict new restrictions on recreational fishing gear to safeguard white sharks, an apex predator protected under state and federal law. The changes mandate the immediate release of any white shark that is accidentally hooked, prohibit hauling them out of the water, and ban the use of wire or metallic lines, leaders, or hooks larger than one and one-half inches in maximum inside diameter when fishing from the shoreline or within 1,000 yards of the mean high tide line south of Pigeon Point. These measures are designed to counteract a rise in intentional and accidental targeting of white sharks by anglers using heavy-duty equipment, which has already led to the deaths of at least three sharks this year and contributed to a serious human incident in 2014 when a swimmer was bitten by a shark previously hooked by a pier angler. An impending strong El Niño event is expected to bring increased numbers of white sharks, particularly juveniles, into coastal waters where recreational fishing is common, heightening the risk of dangerous interactions between hooked sharks and ocean users. The urgency to act stems from recent alarming trends of targeted fishing and the potential for further fatalities among sharks and humans. By restricting the most harmful gear types and enforcing immediate release protocols, the regulation seeks to reduce lethal outcomes for white sharks and prevent potentially lethal encounters between hooked sharks and swimmers, surfers, or other people in the water. The Fish and Game Commission has identified this as an emergency situation requiring immediate regulatory intervention to protect both marine life and public safety.

General Info

Ban wire gear and large hooks near shore, require immediate white shark release to protect sharks and public safety.

Agency

California → Fish and Game Commission

NAICS

924120 - Administration of Conservation ProgramsView NAICS

Place of Performance

Set-Aside

NONE

Documents

(2)

Amendment to Title 14 CCR Sections 28.06 and 28.65 for White Shark Gear Restrictions

PDF•amendment

California Fish and Game Commission Emergency Amendments on White Shark Recreational Gear Restrictions

PDF•determination-and-findings

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Timeline

PostedJun 19

forecast

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Organization & Contact Information

AgencyCalifornia → Fish and Game Commission

Contacts1 person available

OfficeN/A

Organization / Agency

California → Fish and Game Commission

Office AddressN/A

Contacts

Melissa Miller-HensonExecutive Director

contact@example.gov

+1 (555) 000-0000

Full Description

The proposed project would make amendments to Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR), Sections 28.06 and 28.65 regarding finfish fishing gear restrictions and the take of white sharks. The proposed amendments would add a requirement to immediately release hooked white sharks and prohibit removing white sharks from the water. The proposed amendments would also prohibit the use of wire or metallic lines or leaders, or hooks greater than one and one-half inches in maximum inside diameter, when fishing from the shoreline (including beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man-made structures connected to the shore) or within 1,000 yards of the mean high tide line in ocean waters south of Pigeon Point (San Mateo County, 37° 11' N. lat.). The amendments are necessary to further protect white sharks from illegal fishing activities and to help prevent incidents between hooked white sharks and ocean users in the same vicinity. White sharks are an important apex predator in the marine ecosystem and are protected under state and federal fishing regulations. There have been several recent incidents involving pier and beach anglers either intentionally targeting white sharks or accidentally hooking them with very heavy fishing gear. These incidents have resulted in the death of at least three white sharks this year. Additionally, in 2014, a swimmer was bitten by a white shark that had been hooked by a pier angler. This year, a forecasted strong El Niño oceanic event is anticipated to increase the presence of white sharks in California coastal waters, which will increase their availability to anglers and the potential for human interactions with hooked sharks. Young white sharks are already being observed in significantly higher numbers in southern California. Because of this, an emergency situation exists that requires an immediate need to curtail illegal targeted fishing for white sharks, help ensure accidentally hooked sharks are released alive, and help prevent another incident where a hooked shark bites an ocean user or the heavy gear used to catch such sharks entangles a person in the water.