The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will hold five public workshops to discuss groundfish management in California. Attendees will hear an overview of recent groundfish management and science developments and then participate in focused stakeholder discussions on potential changes to recreational and commercial fishery management measures for 2017 and 2018.

Several new groundfish stock assessments conducted in 2015 show some previously overfished stocks have been restored, possibly allowing for increased fishing opportunities.

The meetings are scheduled from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the following dates/locations:

– Eureka: Dec. 2. Eureka Public Marina, Wharfinger Building, Bay Room, 1 Marina Way, Eureka.

– Fort Bragg: Dec. 3. California Fish and Wildlife Office, 32330 North Harbor Drive.
 
– Sausalito: Dec. 9. Bay Model Visitor Center, 2100 Bridgeway.
 
– Monterey: Jan. 6. California Fish and Wildlife Office, 20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100.
 
– Los Alamitos: Jan. 7. California Fish and Wildlife Office, 4665 Lampson Ave., Suite C.

Staff will interact with participants about their preferences for various management measures, including season dates, potential changes to Rockfish Conservation Areas and bag limits – including the possibility of retaining canary rockfish.

CDFW is also seeking input on strategies to best minimize interactions with cowcod and yelloweye rockfish, which remain overfished.

The public is encouraged to provide input to managers and representatives based on their own personal experience that will assist in the development of groundfish management.

Groundfish fishing regulations are developed through a collaborative regulatory process involving the Pacific Fishery Management Council, the National Marine Fisheries Service, CDFW, other West Coast states and the California Fish and Game Commission.

Please visit the CDFW Web site for more details regarding these scheduled public meetings and groundfish management at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/Groundfish/2017-2018 .

Please visit the PFMC Web site for more information about the federal regulatory process at www.pcouncil.org/groundfish/current-season-management/ .