Well, as of right now, there is no registered opposition. However, when the bill was in the first committee, the wild trout people spoke against the bill. They are anti-hatchery. They would like to see all fishing with 0 take, catch and release only. I have no problem with designating some waters with C&R. The dept is supposed to designate 25 miles of stream and one lake per year by law. Making all waters C&R is unrealistic. It kind of excludes fishing for children and people who don't flyfish.

The other opposition to the bill is from DFG itself. They don't think that the legislature should be telling the dept how to spend their money. Well, actually the money is being spent unwisely and illegally. Fish and Game Code 711c says in so many words that fishing license revenues shall be used for fishing programs only and shall not be used for non game programs. They are spending fishing license revenues for whatever purpose they feel like.

Assemblyman Cogdill met with the new Fish and Game Director to see what percentage of the revenue would be acceptable. He would agree to no percentage. If the bill does not pass, 4 or more hatcheries will be closed. Does the dept have a plan on how to plant waters where hatcheries will be closed? NOPE

The Legislature's job is to create legislation brought on by requests of the citizens of the state.

In some rural communities, sportfishing tourism is the whole economy. Take for example Mono and Inyo counties. Almost every business in those counties is benefitted by sportfishing. From the gas stations to the restuarants, sportfishing is what brings them money. Trout fishing fuels a $3 billion economy in California.

DFG would have you believe that the bill will take funds from other programs. Well, if the programs are not supposed to be funded with our fishing license dollars, then it might. No one is proposing an expansion of the hatchery program. This bill only keeps California's existing hatcheries operating. DFG is planning on closing Hot Creek, Mojave River, and Merced River Hatcheries. Mad River Hatchery was closed on April 1st. There are also looking at possibly closing Mt. Whitney Hatchery. Mt. Whitney and Hot Creek provide 2/3 of the trout eggs for all DFG hatcheries.

So far,42 Assembly Members have committed to co-authoring the bill. There are only 80 members in the Assembly. Many senators will also join up in the fight. This is how popular this bill is in the Legislature. This bill is a matter of fairness. Why should anglers pay for DFG programs that are not fishing related?

I can also tell you that most DFG employees in the field as well as headquarters, who are involved with fishing programs, want the bill to pass.

There will still be a big struggle. Even if the bill makes it through the Legislature, the Governor could veto it. The Governor needs to know how important hatcheries are to anglers.






James "Brad" Willis
CSEA Bargaining Unit 11 Negotiating Council
Mojave River Hatchery
Victorville,CA
mojavekroc@msn.com or
jwillis@dfg.ca.gov