A bill to strengthen and expand the marine hatchery program at the Leon Raymond Hubbard Jr. Marine Fish Hatchery in Carlsbad passed the Assembly Floor on a bipartisan 75-0 concurrence vote and now heads to the Governor’s Desk for his signature.
The facility is the only salt-water fish hatchery on the U.S. West Coast and operates as the main facility for the Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP). When OREHP was established in 1982, it was specifically dedicated to refining hatchery operations for use in replenishing white seabass in Southern California. Research since then conducted by the Hubbard Sea World Research Institute has identified 13 additional species that can benefit from the program’s cultivation efforts. The bill updates current law to expand the scope of the program to include research on all species that have an economic impact on California.
“At a time when climate change continues to put strain on the world’s oceans, we need to be finding more innovate ways to balance our commercial and sport fishing industries with the need to safeguard against overfishing,” said Assembly member Boerner Horvath. “This bill gives us a shot at securing a sustainable fishing future by equipping us with the tools needed to become effective stewards of our marine resources.”
"On behalf of the Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA-CAL), proud sponsors of AB 1949, we thank Assemblymember Boerner Horvath for her leadership in moving this bill forward” said Bill Shedd, who also serves as Chairman of the OREHP Advisory Panel. “This legislation will allow for the State to continue to invest in the science and research necessary to adapt to inevitable changes in the marine environment and usher in new productivity at this amazing facility.”
