SACRAMENTO – Sen. Mike McGuire, chairman of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced that the 43rd Annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11, at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

“This has been a challenging year for California fisheries,” Sen. McGuire said. “Between a dreadful salmon season and a disastrous crab season, thousands of hard-working California fishing families are struggling and we need to step up and assist them during this difficult time. Our annual hearing will focus on the need for a disaster declaration and the many other hot issues facing the multi-million dollar fishery and aquaculture industries in California.”

John Laird, California’s Natural Resources Secretary, and Charlton Bonham, Director of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, will headline this year’s list of speakers and presenters.

Presentations and discussion will focus specifically on crab, salmon, aquaculture and seafood marketing needs.

The agenda features presentations by state agency leaders, commercial and recreational fishing representatives, river advocates, aquaculture producers, and fish processors.

The hearing begins at 10 a.m. and will be held in Room 112 of the Capitol. The public is welcome to attend the hearing. There is no cost to attend.

The hearing will also be live-streamed on the State Senate’s Web site at www.senate.ca.gov .

“It is an honor to carry on this important tradition that was started by a North Coast legislator, former State Senator Barry Keene, more than 40 years ago,” McGuire said. “The fishery and aquaculture harvest has a deep history here in California and continues to be a significant economic driver up and down the coast and we hope folks come out next week and join the conversation.”

Sitting on the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture with Chair McGuire are Vice Chair Assemblyman Jim Wood, Sen. Jerry Hill, Sen. Jim Nielsen, Sen. Fran Pavley, Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian, Assemblyman Philip Ting and Assemblyman Das Williams.

For more information about the Fisheries Forum visit the Committee Web site at http://fisheries.legislature.ca.gov/ .