Sacramento >> Sen. Mike McGuire (D-North Coast), chairman of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced Wednesday that a hearing on the impacts of the drought and marijuana grows on fisheries will be held on July 1 at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
“In our fourth year of this historic drought, we have to find ways to protect our fisheries from the impacts of the driest years on record, and the devastating impacts of rogue marijuana grows. The combination of the drought and rogue grows have resulted in unprecedented fish kills, have put endangered species on the brink in many California watersheds, and are hammering away at our coastal and port economy, which contribute billions of dollars annually to our state,” Mike McGuire said.
The Fisheries Hearing will focus specifically on the historic drought, marijuana and fisheries needs. The gathering will bring together a number of fishery experts; state agency leaders; commercial and recreational fishing representatives; and river advocates.
John Laird, California’s natural resources secretary, and Charlton Bonham, director of the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, headline this year’s list of speakers and presenters.
Experts from fishermen’s associations will discuss the drought’s impact on fisheries and environmental experts and representatives from the cannabis industry will discuss the impacts of illegal marijuana grows on fisheries.
The hearing begins at 10 a.m. and will be held in Room 2040 of the Capitol. The public is welcome to attend.
Sitting on the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture with McGuire are: Vice Chair Rep. Jim Wood, Sen. Jerry Hill, Sen. Jim Nielsen, Sen. Fran Pavley, Rep. Katcho Achadjian, Rep. Philip Ting and Rep. Das Williams.
Later this fall, the committee will also host the 42nd annual Fisheries Forum and reception.
