SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Mike McGuire, chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Assemblymember Mark Stone, vice chair, are hosting an important hearing on two critical topics: the upcoming Dungeness crab season and how fish passage barriers on our state highways are impacting species recovery.

The hearing, titled “State of the 2019-20 Dungeness Crab Season and Putting Fish Friendly Highways in the Fast Lane,” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon at the State Capitol in Room 112.

“The past five years have been some of the most challenging on record for crab fishermen up and down the coast,” Sen. McGuire said. “While we’re hoping for the best this year, the hearing will be focused on any challenges that may lie ahead including ocean heating, domoic acid levels, potential marine life entanglements as well as remaining concerns about crab size and weight. We hope folks will join us for a comprehensive overview of this top tier fishery.”

The first portion of the hearing will focus on the upcoming Dungeness crab season and any potential impacts that may be on the horizon and when consumers can expect to have crab on the holiday dinner table.

Experts from across the west will focus on ocean heating, domoic acid levels, crab quality tests, risk of whale and marine life entanglements and the recent declaration to delay the season opener.

The JCFA will also hear testimony from fisheries leaders about their perspectives and concerns regarding the Dungeness crab fishery.

The committee will also do a deep dive on fish passage barriers that currently exist on our state highways and the urgent need to protect and restore California’s native fisheries in the face of a changing climate.

Testimony will address the problem created by fish passage barriers and the urgent need for fish to access headwater habitats.

“California’s endangered fish populations are on the brink, especially in the face of a changing climate,” Sen. McGuire said. “There’s a lot this state can do to help the recovery of endangered fish species, and one of the most critical steps we can take is to remove the thousands of fish migration barriers that exist due to our state highway system. We look forward to the collaborative discussion on Tuesday and developing a long term plan to implement fish friendly highways.”

The public is welcome to attend. The hearing will also be live-streamed at www.senate.ca.gov.