Maze Applauds Governor’s Signing Of Sport Fishing Bill

SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Bill Maze (R-Visalia) applauded the signing of AB 7 (Cogdill) – a bill which better secures the financial future of California fish hatcheries and wild trout programs. Maze is a principal co-author of the bill and sponsored his own successful legislation securing the future of the Mt. Whitney fish hatchery.

Specifically, AB 7 provides that, as of July 1, 2006, 33⅓ percent of fees derived from the issuance of all sport fishing licenses, with the exception of revenue already designated for the Abalone Restoration and Preservation Account, will go to a new Hatchery and Inland Fisheries Fund (HIFF). The HIFF would then be used to support programs of the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) related to management, maintenance, and capital improvement of California's fish hatcheries, the Heritage and Wild Trout Program, and related enforcement activities.

Testimony in the Assembly Appropriations Committee last year revealed the DFG was considering closing a California hatchery that provides more than 60% of the fish eggs which eventually become fish in the other hatcheries. Furthermore, the Sacramento Bee noted on May 19 that the DFG planned to reduce production at its 11 trout hatcheries to 10.9 million trout. Trout is the state's most popular freshwater game fish. This would have constituted a 21% drop from the previous year. With AB 7, no fish hatcheries will close, and there will be no such reduction.

Said Maze, “This is something we’ve been working on for years. It’s great to find success. The Governor recognized the problem we have with these bureaucracies – the money users pay into the system isn’t returned unless by coercion or legislation. It’s ridiculous. AB 7 rectifies the issue for hatcheries and sport fisherman all over the state. Keeping these programs well funded is good for the economy and good for the environment – particularly in places throughout the Sierras.

Assemblyman Cogdill did a great job navigating AB 7 though an often hostile and adversarial Legislature. I’m happy to have taken an active role along the way. We need more good legislation like this to make it through the process.”