Fisheries task force, Ocean Science Trust and NGOs press for data and funding
Summary
Task force and science leaders urged lawmakers to fund data modernization, monitoring buoys/gliders and workforce investments to help fisheries and coastal communities anticipate El Ni— ño and other climate-driven changes.
Katie (Dungeness Crab Task Force administrative lead) and Dr. Weidman (California Ocean Science Trust) told the committee that collaborative governance has produced practical recommendations for the Dungeness fishery (lost-gear recovery, servicing rules, pre-season testing) and that Proposition 4 funds create a major opportunity for climate-ready fisheries investments. The task force plans its next meeting Oct. 22—23 to prioritize funding and implementation steps.
Weidman described the 2026 Coast and Ocean Assessment produced with over 120 scientists as a baseline for measuring climate impacts and identifying gaps in observation capacity. He also announced a Sea Change Scholars Fund to support students and build workforce capacity. Both witnesses called for continuing state investments to replace dwindling federal monitoring capacity and to help regional coordination with Oregon and Washington.
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