JOINT COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES TAKES TESTIMONY ON
FISH AND GAME STRATEGIC VISION

Treanor Report Author Wakeman Discusses Need For Reform

SACRAMENTO - The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held the 38th Annual Fisheries Forum on February 16. Chaired by Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro, this year’s summit included a review of the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the Fish and Game Commission.
Secretary of Natural Resources John Laird reported that one of his top priorities is the implementation of AB 2376 – the DFG Strategic Vision. AB 2376 was based in part on the Treanor Report which was authored by the retired Executive Director of the Fish and Game Commission Bob Treanor and Director of Programs for The Sportfishing Conservancy, April Wakeman.
Wakeman testified as to the problems faced by the DFG, including increased mandates with no additional funding or resources to fulfill these mandates. The goal of the legislation is to take a good look at what the department has been asked to do, and how to do it.
“While both the commission and department do incredible work with their limited resources, it’s not fair to either the employees or to our resources to endlessly add responsibility without the necessary resources to fulfill those responsibilities,” said Wakeman.
Although some groups had argued that perceived private funding would somehow ‘taint’ the results of the hearings, a provision for private funding was not part of the legislation.
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For more information and full text of the “Treanor Report” go to www.sportcon.org


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