3. If you own a herring fishing vessel, what size is it?
Currently, a herring permit is issued to an individual, and that individual may apply to the Department to temporarily substitute their permit to someone else. Please select the answer that best describes your opinion about these potential changes:
The FMP presents an opportunity to modify the regulatory language in Section 163 of the California Code of Regulations. Please select the answer that best describes your opinion about these potential changes:
Questions 11-17 are specific to the San Francisco Bay fishery.
The platoon fishing system was instituted in San Francisco Bay to minimize conflict and organize a much larger fleet. There is interest in streamlining the permit process by eliminating the Odd and Even platoons. Currently, each Odd or Even permit allows the holder to fish 65 fathoms (1 shackle) of gillnet every other week during the season.
DHAC proposal to eliminate platoons: Each Odd or Even permit could be converted to a single standard “Gillnet” permit, which would entitle the holder to fish a half shackle (32.5 fathoms) of gear every week during the season. CH permits could be converted to 2 standard gillnet permits equaling 1 shackle. These changes would not reduce the amount of gear currently allowed in the fishery.
Existing regulations allow herring permittees to hold up to 3 permits. If the platoon system were eliminated (as described above), the Department may consider allowing participants to hold up to 4 permits, each allowing use of a half shackle of gear (2 shackles total). The Department may then consider allowing these new 4-permit holders to convert to a single “full permit” to further simplify the permitting system.
Please select the answer that best describes your opinion about these proposed changes:
18. In your opinion, what is a viable fleet size for the herring fishery given resource conditions, herring markets, and fishing area constraints for San Francisco Bay?