The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is requesting nominations to fill two vacant representative positions on the Recreational Abalone Advisory Committee (RAAC).

The purpose of the RAAC is to make recommendations to CDFW’s Director for projects and budgets for the expenditure of funds from the Abalone Restoration and Preservation Account.

The RAAC consists of nine members: two representatives from each of three coastal regions (south, central and north), two science experts and one enforcement representative.

CDFW is accepting nominations for the north and south coastal representative positions through March 4, 2016.

Nominees must reside within established geographic boundaries for the respective regions.

Nominees for the north region must reside north of the southern boundary line of Marin County extending due east, and nominees for the south region must reside south of the Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo County line extending due east.

Nominations may come from any individual or member of an organization involved in the recreational abalone fishery.

To nominate a representative for either of these two seats, please send a nomination letter to: Ian Taniguchi, Marine Region Senior Abalone Scientist, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 4665 Lampson Ave., Ste. C, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.

Letters may also be sent via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Nomination letters should include the nominee’s current residence and contact information, as well as a brief description of the nominee’s experience in the abalone fishery.

Funding for the Abalone Restoration and Preservation Account comes from the sale of recreational abalone stamps and report cards.

More details about abalone management and the RAAC can be found on the CDFW Web site at www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/marine/invertebrates/abalone .