“Caltrout’s North Coast Projects Receive Funding Awards from CDFW.” California Trout, 19 Jan. 2022, https://caltrout.org/news/caltrout-north-coast-projects-receive-funding-awards-from-cdfw.
On the northern coast of California, the nonprofit Cal trout has received nearly $1 million from the California Department of Fish and wildlife. This funding is for the research of different fish species including salmon and steelhead trout. This portion of the coast is less developed than any other part of California. Therefore they are strongholds when it comes to fish species that we are losing in central and southern California. Watershed health will be improved as a result of these studies being done by professors at UC Berkeley and other private scientific study companies. Multiple plans have already been put in place and rivers such as the eel River Hill river basin Cedar Creek and other creeks and rivers along the north coast some coastal some central.
It is nice to see the connection between this article and the article about the restrictions being placed for the same river such as the Eel river. These rivers are so crucial to the survival of California’s fish species, and placing restrictions on fishing when needed, and doing studies to further understand the species and how we can help them is crucial. Seeing both of these strategies work simultaneously is something we have never seen before, and it is important that they continue as we see more and more droughts, pollution and overfishing. Another connection between this article in the previous article is the CDFW California Department of Fish and wildlife, and both instances the CDFW is the reason for the protection happening, and it is nice to see that we have an association doing its job whether it’s emergency drought funds projects or prolonged fishing restrictions. Although there has been backlash from fishermen, and their industries, at the end of the day these things are being done for them because in the long term there won’t be any native fish left if we don’t make a change. It is also interesting to look at each individual plan or restoration progress report, the amount of funding needed is rather significant adding up to millions of dollars, however it seems their studies are worth it and their connections to tribal and nonprofit associations or rather interesting. It seems many of the restorations are either removal of dams or barriers or re-restoration or redirecting rivers and creeks.
I think it’s great that California is taking the initiative with ramping up funding for researching fish species native to our state’s rivers and creeks. I agree that this is an important thing to go forward with for both environmental and economic reasons that will truly pay off in the future. I wonder how these fishing restrictions will impact local fishermen’s livelihoods.
Thank you for your comment, I think you really understood what the article and I were both trying to illustrate. When it comes to the livelihood of these fisherman we are faced with a tough reality that these people may suffer. It is a seasonal occupation and sometimes that season just may never come. Many of these fisherman work many jobs outside of fishing given its seasonal employment so hopefully they will do alright.
I agree that it is an important step to try to prevent overfishing in order to keep biodiversity. Do you believe that the steps and precautions we are taking are enough? How can we improve the protections on the fish and other animals without hurting the people who rely on them?
Thanks for the comment, To be honest, I think we are doing all we can to prevent the extinction of these species and conserve biodiversity. There are other things we can do such as reintroduce species and such strategies however at the end of the day overfishing is what cause most of these issues and therefore regulating that fishing is the best way to solve the issues.
I think working to protect our wildlife is important and its good that there is at least an attempt being made. I think we need to look past the short term backlash coming from people who may be hurting economically in the short term. Do you think we are taking the correct approach to solving this problem or do you think there may be a better alternative?