Vote For Abalone Fishery Closure in Sonoma County

Fish and Game Commission Votes to Close Abalone
Fishery in Sonoma County

Contact:
Jordan Traverso, DFG Communications, (916) 654-9937

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) today took emergency action to close the abalone fishery along part of the northern California coast. Specifically, the Commission voted 3-0 to close the fishery in the entirety of Sonoma County. Commissioners Daniel Richards and Richard Rogers were not in attendance.

This action was taken in the wake of confirmed reports of dead red abalone and other invertebrates on beaches and inside coves along the Sonoma County coastline.

Data continue to be collected that shows an abalone die-off along the Sonoma coast beginning Aug. 27. According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) biologists, these abalone deaths coincided with a local red tide bloom and calm ocean conditions. Although the exact reasons for the abalone deaths are not known, invertebrate die-offs have occurred in the past along the northern California coast due to lack of oxygen and/or poisoning when similar weather and bloom conditions existed, but not at the magnitude of this event.

DFG is assessing the impact of the situation and provided the Commission with information at today's meeting.

Reports of dead abalone and a variety of invertebrates have come from Bodega Bay, Russian Gulch, Fort Ross, Timber Cove and Salt Point State Park in Sonoma County and as far north as Anchor Bay in Mendocino County. DFG biologists and game wardens have collected abalone, mussels and water samples since the beginning and are continuing to document reports from the public. The public is encouraged to report the location, number and date of dead or dying abalone to Ian Taniguchi at (562) 342-7182 or by e-mail at itaniguchi@dfg.ca.gov.

Divers are encouraged to avoid diving in the affected areas. The exact implementation date of the emergency closure will be determined by the regulatory process and is expected soon. Please continue to check the Commission¹s website at www.fgc.ca.gov.

Abalone fishermen are advised to contact a physician immediately if they feel sick, and to report symptoms to the local county health department (www.sonoma-county.org/health/about/publichealth.asp). The latest red tide updates from the California Department of Public Health are also posted online at www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/DDWEM.aspx.

For more information, please refer to DFG's Sept. 2 press release, available at
http://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/abalone-die-off-observed-in-sonoma-
county/.

Closure of Abalone Fishery Under Consideration

The California Fish and Game Commission will consider emergency action on
Thursday, Sept. 15 to possibly close the abalone fishery along the northern
California coast. This action is being considered in the wake of confirmed
reports of dead red abalone and other invertebrates on beaches and inside
coves along the coast in Sonoma County.

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is currently attempting to assess the
impact of the situation and will provide the Commission with information at
this Thursday's meeting. Based on the DFG's report, the Commission may take
emergency action to close the abalone season along all or parts of the
Sonoma coast.

There was an abalone die-off along the Sonoma coast beginning Aug. 27 as a
result of a red tide-induced poisoning and/or lack of oxygen. According to
DFG biologists, these abalone deaths coincided with a local red tide bloom
and calm ocean conditions. Although the exact reasons for the abalone deaths
are not known, invertebrate die-offs have occurred in the past along the
northern California coast when similar weather and bloom conditions existed.

The number of dead and dying abalone is not known but DFG divers are
assessing the damage this week via underwater transect surveys. Reports of
dead abalone and a variety of invertebrates have come from Bodega Bay,
Russian Gulch, Fort Ross, Timber Cove and Salt Point State Park. Other DFG
biologists and game wardens have collected abalone, mussels and water
samples since the beginning of the bloom and are continuing to document
reports from the public.

For more information, please refer to DFG's Sept. 2 press release,
http://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/abalone-die-off-observed-in-sonoma-
county/.

Abalone fishermen are advised to contact a physician immediately if they
feel sick, and to report symptoms to the local county health department
(www.sonoma-county.org/health/about/publichealth.asp). The latest red tide
updates from the California Department of Public Health are also posted
online at www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/DDWEM.aspx.

Contacts:
Ian Taniguchi, DFG Marine Region, (562) 342-7182
Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8988

San Francisco Bay Spill Update

San Francisco Bay Spill Update: Shoreline fishing activities resume in some Alameda County areas

The California Department of Fish and Game, upon recommendation of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), has modified the shoreline fishing and shellfish harvesting closure.

Shoreline area restrictions lifted:
- Oakland Middle Harbor north to the Bay Bridge
- Oakland Inner Harbor
- San Leandro Bay
- Shoreline south of the southern boundary of Oakland Airport to the San Mateo Bridge

The decision to lift the closures was based on shoreline oiling data collected during the response.

Shoreline area remaining closed:
- Alameda County shoreline along San Francisco Bay from Alameda Point (at the northwest corner of Alameda Naval Air station) to the southern boundary of the Oakland airport. This area is closed to fishing from the shore, including finfish and shellfish.

The closure will remain in effect until an investigation determines that there is no potential public health threat posed by the spill.

This closure does not apply to fishing from boats in the bay. OEHHA continues to advise that anglers avoid fishing in areas where there is a visible sheen on the water.

Fishery closure map available at http://www.nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=16251


Contacts:
Sam Delson, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, (916) 764-0955
Carol Singleton, Department of Fish and Game, (916) 539-6124
U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs, (415) 748-0112

Bay Area Shoreline Fishing Closure

Bay Area Shoreline Fishing Closure in Effect until Determined Safe to
Reopen

Alameda, Calif. – The closure of the fishing and shellfish harvesting
in oil affected areas will continue until the Office of Environmental
Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and Department of Fish and Game (DFG)
determine it safe to reopen.

Closure areas include the Alameda County shoreline between the San
Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the San Mateo Bridge. In addition,
OEHHA advises that fishermen avoid fishing in areas where there is a
visible sheen.

"Protecting the public's health is our top priority," said OEHHA
Director Joan Denton. "It's a good idea to avoid any fish from the spill
area until further notice."

OEHHA is the science arm of the California Environmental Protection
Agency and is working with DFG, the Department of Public Health and
other agencies to assess impacts of the oil spill on the fisheries.

OEHHA's safety guidelines call for avoiding consumption of any fish or
shellfish from the spill area until analysis of the collected samples is
completed. Visible oil or oily smell are obvious indications of
contamination, but fish and shellfish from the spill area could still
pose a potential risk even if there are no visible signs of
contamination.

Fish and shellfish caught from waters outside the spill area remain as
safe to eat as before the spill, but marine life from the spill area
should be avoided until the evaluation of its safety is completed. In
addition, health officials are asking people to stay away from shore
areas until cleanup efforts are completed.

OEHHA has issued the following safety advice for beaches in the spill
area: Avoid direct contact with spilled oil, which can cause skin
irritation. Prolonged contact can cause rashes. If you get oil or tar on
your skin, wash it off with soap and water, and be certain to wash your
hands before eating.

If you get oil on your clothing, wash it in the usual way. There is no
need to use harsh detergents, solvents or other chemicals to wash oil
from skin or clothing.

Do not burn driftwood or other debris that may be contaminated with
oil. Use common sense. Do not swim in water with an oil slick and do not
swallow water from the area. Oil-contaminated water can cause choking
and lead to severe pneumonia if it gets into the lungs.

There is no risk of adverse health effects from breathing air near
spilled oil unless there is prolonged exposure to fumes.

Contacts:
Sam Delson, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, (916)
764-0955
Carol Singleton, Department of Fish and Game, (916) 539-6124
U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs, (415) 748-0112