BILL NUMBER: AB 849	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Berg

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2005

   An act to add Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 7059.5) to Part
1.7 of Division 6 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to fisheries.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 849, as introduced, Berg.   Fish and game: marine research.
   Existing law provides for the propagation of fish and for the
establishment of an ocean resources enhancement and hatchery plan for
the purpose of basic and applied research on the propagation,
rearing, stocking, and distribution of adversely affected marine fish
species that are important to sport and commercial fishing.
   This bill would declare that the policy of the state is to
facilitate collaboration between fishing men and women and scientists
and researchers employed by or contracted to the department in
conducting ocean and marine fisheries research, including, but not
limited to, the utilization of the knowledge of fishing men and
women, their employment in fish stock surveys, data collection, and
deployment of scientific equipment, and the utilization of fishing
vessels, whenever practical, to serve as platforms for ocean and
marine resources research.
   This bill would also make legislative findings and declarations
relating to the utilization of the knowledge of fishing men and women
as platforms for ocean and marine fishery research.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 7059.5) is added
to Part 1.7 of Division 6 of the  Fish and Game Code , to read:
      CHAPTER 2.5  MARINE FISHERIES AND OCEAN ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH

   7059.5.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Research, including ongoing data collection and periodic resource
assessments, is essential to the foundation of understanding
necessary for the conservation, use, and management of the state's
ocean waters and the marine resources therein.
   (b) Working fishing men and women and other mariners possess
special knowledge of ocean waters and resources that should be
utilized by marine scientists, fishery biologists, and resource
managers in helping to create a full understanding of ocean
ecosystems.
   (c) The knowledge of fishing men and women has been tapped and
utilized through cooperative research programs in New England and
elsewhere that have proven invaluable in enhancing the understanding
of ocean ecosystems and marine living resources.
   (d) The state should develop a formal and ongoing program to
utilize the knowledge of fishing men and women, including the
utilization of collaborative ocean and fishery research projects with
marine scientists and the utilization of fishing craft, whenever
practical, as platforms for ocean and marine fishery research.
   7059.6.  It is the policy of the state to facilitate collaboration
between fishing men and women and scientists and researchers
employed by or contracted to the department in conducting ocean and
marine fisheries research, including, but not limited to, the
utilization of the knowledge of fishing men and women, their
employment in fish stock surveys, data collection, and deployment of
scientific equipment, and the utilization of fishing vessels,
whenever practical, to serve as platforms for ocean and marine
resources research.