Industry groups and conservationists urge balanced approach: marketing, kelp restoration and entanglement prevention

Public comment speakers reflected the range of coastal stakeholders. David Goldenberg (California Salmon Council, Sea Urchin Commission) described marketing needs after multiple closed seasons, ongoing work to secure disaster funds and cooperative urchin‑removal projects to aid kelp recovery. Ben Grundy (Center for Biological Diversity) urged removing vertical lines and strategic effort restrictions to reduce entanglements and asked agencies to uphold ESA and MMPA obligations.

Recreational representatives described the economic footprint of anglers: a briefing from the American Sport Fishing Association noted nearly 1.7 million recreational anglers in California who contribute to local economies and conservation revenue. Several speakers praised collaborative programs such as the Dungeness Crab Task Force, the Commercial Fisherman's Gear Recovery Network and volunteer hatchery programs, and asked the Legislature to continue supporting monitoring, safety and funding for recovery actions.