At its August 2018 meeting in Fortuna, the California Fish and Game Commission took action on a number of issues affecting California's natural resources. The following are just a few items of interest from the meeting.

Commission President Eric Sklar, Commissioner Jacque Hostler-Carmesin and Commissioner Peter Silva were present. Commission Vice President Anthony Williams and Commissioner Russell Burns were absent.

In response to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife findings of declining density and poor ocean conditions, in December 2017, the commission adopted regulations to close the recreational abalone fishery for the 2018 season.

Unfortunately, ocean conditions are not improving for California's red abalone, and populations continue to decline due to severe starvation conditions.

Consequently, on Aug. 22, the commission voted unanimously to authorize publication of notice of intent to amend regulations to extend the fishery closure sunset date for the recreational red abalone fishery another two years (through April 2021).

They will take action on whether or not to extend the closure the season at their December meeting.

On Aug. 23, the commission voted unanimously to list the Humboldt marten as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act.

The commission also received an update from CDFW regarding cutting-edge rehabilitation techniques being utilized on wildlife severely burned in wildfires.

Typically wildlife finds ways to flee from wildfire and CDFW does not anticipate large scale population declines associated with the fires.

However, some animals have been deemed suitable for rehabilitation and have been taken in for treatment.

Thus far, three bears and one mountain lion have been treated for burns with sterilized tilapia skin. CDFW released a time-lapse video of one of the bears undergoing the treatment.

The full commission summary and supporting information can be found at www.fgc.ca.gov . An archived video will soon be available.

The California Fish and Game Commission was the first wildlife conservation agency in the United States, predating even the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries.

There is often confusion about the distinction between CDFW and the commission. In the most basic terms, CDFW implements and enforces the regulations set by the commission, as well as provides biological data and expertise to inform the commission's decision-making process.