More than 40 fishermen came to Sacramento recently and testified in opposition to Assembly Bill 1299. An impressive line of fishermen approached the microphone single file to state their names, vessels and plead their case.
Why? Because the implications if AB 1299 passes will strip many fishermen of their livelihood, in many cases family fishing businesses that have existed for decades up and down the California coast.
The bill jeopardizes the future of California?s historic Wetfish fisheries, the backbone of California”s fishing economy. AB 1299 restricts California fishermen unfairly, because virtually all the forage species listed are actively managed or monitored by the federal government and most species are harvested along the entire West Coast.
AB 1299 comes at a time when Gov. Brown is promoting jobs, while the Legislature is contemplating a wasteful policy that would lose thousands of jobs.
Jeffrey Weidel
Calif. Wetfish Producers Association
