California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks
By the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
On Monday, Sept. 19, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 2109, providing new protections for white sharks in California waters. White sharks, also called great white sharks, are already a protected species and an important part of the ocean ecosystem as top-level predators. There is enormous public and scientific interest in them.
Sponsored by Assemblymember Steve Bennett, the bill passed the California legislature with an overwhelming majority of support. The new restrictions aim to get ahead of activities that may lead to increased interactions between white sharks and humans, and to give law enforcement more tools to protect white sharks from intentional efforts to catch or attract them. The new law also helps protect the public from interactions with white sharks that have been unintentionally hooked by fishermen by restricting when and where chum and shark bait can be used, while still allowing other legal fishing activities to continue.
“Sharks are one of California’s most iconic marine species, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that their populations are sustained,” Assemblymember Bennett said. “At the same time, public safety is of the utmost importance.”
“This bill represents a collaborative engagement between anglers, the scientific community, the legislature and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to develop proactive, common-sense approaches to further protect California’s iconic white sharks, while also protecting ocean users and preserving recreational fishing opportunities,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham.
Anglers should note the new rules regarding take of white sharks go into effect on January 1, 2023. These rules, found in California Fish and Game Code, section 5517, prohibit the use of shark bait, shark lures or shark chum to attract a white shark. Anglers also may not place those items into the water within one nautical mile of any shoreline, pier or jetty, when a white shark is visible or known to be present.
CDFW continues to work with partners to proactively address the potential for fishing activities to lead to white shark interactions. The Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL) is also very supportive of protecting white sharks.
“We fight for responsible and sustainable fishing practices while also supporting regulations to protect our most vulnerable resources,” said Wayne Kotow, executive director for CCA CAL. “We are all stewards of the resources and need to work together for the future of our favorite sport of fishing.”
“We have seen increased use of California beaches as nursery habitat for juvenile white sharks,” said Dr. Chris Lowe, a professor in marine biology and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach. “This bill will help reduce fishery interactions with white sharks, helping the protected sharks and ocean users by reducing the risk of hooking these sharks at public beaches and ocean piers where people are swimming, surfing and diving.”
For more information about white sharks, please visit CDFW’s White Shark Information webpage, which includes answers to frequently asked questions, as well as shark incident information going back to 1950. Additional questions may be sent to CDFW’s Marine Region via email.
Comments Penalty Box
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72 Comments
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Oct 02, 2022 01:00 AMGT, I assume this is the source citation?
https://hakaimagazine.com/features/gray-laws-on-white-sharks/
Thanks for sharing it, and please do include the cite next time.
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Oct 03, 2022 03:00 AMYou still can't handle spelling his name correctly, or understanding how the government works. Newsom didn't create the bill, usher it through the assembly, or really have anything to do with it other than signing it when it landed on his desk.
You say you're the rational middle ground. Sorry, bud, but you're nowhere near that.
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Sep 30, 2022 06:10 PMThey have similar laws regarding certain shark species in the great Repuglican State of Florida. Relax. Florida, where inbreds cut off their own fingers to get insurance money - yet they protect certain species of sharks. Go figure.
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Sep 30, 2022 07:39 PMRepuglicans hate the environment - this is not new news. The GOP has become a sick machine designed to create disinformation for fear mongering and fund raising to re-elect their power hungry authoritarians. Pump out the fumes and the gases and kill all the animals and wildlife. Jesus will take us all soon when the four horseman come anywhere so we'll have no grandkids to leave it too is their going philosophy - so they say they are the victim, can't do nothing about it and put their head in the sand. The GOP has become an evangelical nonsense fornicator for that all will follow their twisted version of the myth of Jesus. Much like the time of the Salem witch trials and the Spanish Inquisition. An enemy of nature and democracy, science, and fundamental human and civil rights.
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Oct 01, 2022 08:43 AMHa ha, white flag.
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Oct 03, 2022 09:47 AMAgreed, GeneralTree.
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Oct 01, 2022 08:10 AMUnfortunately, this legislation is not going to save a single white shark, but nice try. I don't believe anyone can explain otherwise. I've been fishing my entire life (okay, starting when I was about 4 or 5....not from birth, so not my e-n-t-i-r-e life). First fish was a crappie caught using a simple stick with about three feet of line, rusty hook, and fresh water "tube" grub. Halibut in Alaska. Rainbow trout in Tasmania and Rio Grande (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina), hand line fishing all around Australia (really easy to travel with a hand line in your luggage/backpack), bonefish in Turks and Caicos, and every type of fish (except great whites) from the shores of Santa Barbara to Santa Barbara Island. Those who have a passion for fishing don't care about your politics or who you voted for and typically avoid the subject, especially on multiple-day fishing trips. Our focus and obsession is on fishing, not on demonizing each other over simple disagreements....at least not true lovers of fishing. Maybe consider focusing on the enjoyment of fishing, not hound others about politics is a good start unless you want to turn off everyone. Bottom line is that feel-good legislation will do nothing to save the GWs from those who want to kill them. Good luck to my wonderful friends who enjoy fishing, especially anyone who is into catch and release!
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Oct 03, 2022 01:01 AMWow, you've done just about everything!
I thought those who love fishing like to keep the populations up, so maybe some fishers DO care about politics.
Good luck to you & your friends.
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Oct 03, 2022 07:17 AM1:01 AM: Thanks for wishing me and my friends luck....I will take any/all positive vibes sent my way (who wants the negative vibes?). You are correct about wanting our fish populations to be at higher levels, and that's why we practice "catch & release", where we release nearly all fish after we catch them. When fishing the Kenai River in Alaska, we will keep some of the salmon, but certainly not keep a halibut (or anything else) caught at the Goleta/SB/Gaviota piers. I can appreciate it when folks such as yourself say "you've done it all!" However, like learning, the more you know, the more you know that you don't know. So, the more I do, the more I realize that I have NOT done! Odd, but that's how it works in my case. Keep on fishin' people....and keep puttin' 'em back in the water for future generations to enjoy!!!
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Oct 03, 2022 01:45 PMBABY - the purpose of this legislation is not so much to save GW's (as many have correctly pointed out, they're protected), but to:
"The new restrictions aim to get ahead of activities that may lead to increased interactions between white sharks and humans, and to give law enforcement more tools to protect white sharks from intentional efforts to catch or attract them. The new law also helps protect the public from interactions with white sharks that have been unintentionally hooked by fishermen by restricting when and where chum and shark bait can be used, while still allowing other legal fishing activities to continue." - https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/california-assembly-bill-2109-signed-into-law-providing-new-protections-for-white-sharks
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Oct 01, 2022 10:23 AMAnd what about a State Assembly Bill to protect people who enjoy the ocean waters for surfing, paddle boarding and swimming from great white sharks? Save The Humans From Great White Sharks!
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Oct 01, 2022 12:29 PMThe whiners sound like the same ones who whined when the Marine Protected Areas were implemented, but that proved to be very successful in increasing fish populations outside of the MPA’s.
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Oct 01, 2022 04:09 PMPatrick, I challenge to to go ahead and prove your statement with some primary research. To me it looks like you’re spewing some bites and headlines, and that’s not science bud. The MPA’s are a completely different issue, but if you want to bring that up go ahead. There is ZERO credible evidence of your assertion in any legitimate study. And I’m not talking just googling stuff and throwing out some random titles. Don’t bother if you’re bringing that garbage. Those who do science (not for the government) know how to critically think. Let’s see what you got.
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Oct 01, 2022 04:31 PMThis just shows that you:
A) Don't follow any of the maritime research on the subject.
B) Still haven't figured out how to thread your comment replies.
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Oct 01, 2022 04:54 PMHow about we get rid of some of these overpopulated Whites before a tragedy occurs to a good human. Or are White Sharks and criminals prioritizes over the regular folks by Newsom?
Let the down voted begin, dissenting views are not tolerated in Democrat echo chambers.
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Oct 01, 2022 07:03 PMHere's a clue for you: White sharks are not the ones with the overpopulation problem.
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Oct 01, 2022 07:39 PMcome on man, it was almost a valid statement. ?
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Oct 01, 2022 09:32 PMGot it. And wow, what a statement against your fellow humans.
“White Sharks ancestry dates back more than 400 million years, and they are one of evolution’s greatest success stories.”
I don’t think they need Newsom’s help. He and the CA dems should really focus on fixing this broken state. The priorities are so out of whack. How about a bill for the middle class, reducing crime, helping students and teachers. White Sharks? What a joke.
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Oct 03, 2022 03:04 AMA downvote is an expression of dissent, you silly hypocrite.
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Oct 03, 2022 09:51 AMIf you would like to engage in logical debate, I am all ears. But playground talk is not worthwhile.
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Oct 03, 2022 09:51 AMIf you would like to engage in logical debate, I am all ears. But playground talk is not worthwhile. Would like to raise the bar on Edhat.
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Oct 03, 2022 01:58 PM"Or are White Sharks and criminals prioritizes over the regular folks by Newsom?" - uhhhhh..... what?
"If you would like to engage in logical debate, I am all ears" - lol
"But playground talk is not worthwhile. Would like to raise the bar on Edhat." - you mean like how "Newsom prioritizes white sharks" over "good humans" or "regular folks?"
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