California Aquaculture Association

California’s Fish and Game Commission met in Woodland last week and got an earful from your CAA representatives.  The CAA delegation was led by Rob Ross, our Government Affairs consultant, and included presentations by Anthony Schurr, CAA VP for Government Affairs, Mark Eglinton, CAA Board of Directors, and Dr. Michael McCoy, CAA Executive Director.

Rob Ross led the charge, addressing two different agenda items and presenting the Commission with a letter of testimony on each.  The first item involved the requirement for labeling vehicles carrying live fish in California.  CAA urged the Commission to eliminate an exemption to the requirement that would make it easy for trucks importing fish from out of state to move undetected into California.  CAA urged that the same rules apply to all vehicles transporting fish.

The second item addressed by Ross, along with the other representatives of CAA, was a set of proposed changes to Section 671.  These changes deal primarily with restrictions related to non-native species being introduced into California.  CAA offered a variety of comments and recommendations. (These can be found in the Letter of Testimony posted in the Action Center of this website.)  Among its many concerns, CAA insisted that the regulations not favor out of state production and importation over California aquaculture.  CAA also urged the Commission not to rush forward with regulations until they had the complete scientific picture that would inform the changes.

Much of this discussion, from CAA’s perspective, has to do with the growing and importation of barramundi.  A CAA member was refused permission to grow barramundi just two years ago.  Now the new regulations might permit that grower to begin aquaculture of the fish, but will also allow immediate importation of barramundi from out of state, with much less stringent controls.  CAA also remains concerned that sale of live barramundi will not be permitted in the southern part of the state, despite the very weak evidence that they could pose any risk.

These proposed changes will come up for their final hearing and decision at the Commission’s August meeting in Woodland.  CAA will be present to represent the interests of its members.