California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks title=
White shark (Photo by Liz Hellmers/CDFW)
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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.

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liberty
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Oct 01, 2022 04:54 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

How 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.

sacjon
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Oct 03, 2022 01:58 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

"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?"

liberty
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Oct 01, 2022 09:32 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

Got 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.

Basicinfo805
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Oct 01, 2022 04:09 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

Patrick, 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.

Babycakes
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Oct 01, 2022 08:10 AM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

Unfortunately, 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!

sacjon
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Oct 03, 2022 01:45 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

BABY - 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

Babycakes
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Oct 03, 2022 07:17 AM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

1:01 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!!!

GeneralTree
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Sep 30, 2022 07:39 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

Repuglicans 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.

MarcelK
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Oct 03, 2022 03:00 AM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

You 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.

GeneralTree
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Sep 30, 2022 06:37 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

These quotes are from 2019. How in the heck do you think you have more experience than those in the CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife? "Mike Stefanak, the CDFW’s marine enforcement district assistant chief, agrees that the language regulating the take of fish and other animals isn’t necessarily clear. “There are always areas of the law that tend to be gray,” he says, adding that “without statements from witnesses, or statements from other participants,” proving that an angler was fishing specifically for great whites is “very difficult.”

"As a businessman, Wonder has benefited from catching so many great whites. He owns a company, Terra Firma Tackle, that sells shark fishing gear, including leaders—hooks connected to long lengths of bite-resistant wire—suitable for landing very large sharks. Wonder says each photo of a great white that he posts to Instagram “is a sale.”

"On August 17, 2017, Wonder posted a comment on one such photo in which he called the catch of a particularly large great white “a milestone.” More recently, in a post from December 2018, he said a mid-sized great white was in the “top 10 for sure, but still a long way from crushing [my personal best] from two years ago.”"

NostraChumash
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Sep 30, 2022 05:18 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

It says it, right there on the bottom of the snow-skis;
"Do NOT use to assist during childbirth"..
Because some Pendecker will surely try.
I call it Proactivity.
Cruiseships are bad enough without a "cage dive charter" popping up.
And the sharks will appreciate it.

edney
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Sep 30, 2022 03:55 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

edscolds from scoldhat descend on the subject even though they clearly are ignorant.
"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."

This law effectively makes ALL shark bait, lure use, thus all shark fishing a citable offense within one mile of shore using some undescribed formula of ( "undefined notification process, + "knowledge of presence" = citation) about where white sharks are. There are almost always white sharks within a mile of shore and if they want to ban all shark fishing in this area, they should have the courage to say so.

This law also puts the fisherman into a situation of proving their own innocence. "I did not get the notification" Too bad. That is on you. "I didn't know there were white sharks present" Too bad. Hard to prove when you have one hooked

Most fishing laws just say for example: you cannot fish for any trout species here because there is a protected trout in these waters. Or: This golden trout is protected. You are not allowed to take any golden trout here, they must be released. All other trout OK
Why not say: no white sharks may be taken within one mile of shore and if caught, must be released.

sacjon
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Oct 03, 2022 01:42 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

ENDEY - "This law effectively makes ALL shark bait, lure use, thus all shark fishing... blah blah blah" - No, it doesn't. This must be why so many of your fellow cons have trouble with the 2nd Amendment. You don't read laws fully.

Here's WHEN the chumming and baiting TO ATTRACT WHITE SHARKS is illegal: "WHEN A WHITE SHARK IS EITHER VISIBLE OR KNOWN TO BE PRESENT."

Again, WHEN A GW is VISIBLE to your eyes or you KNOW with your brain that one is nearby, you can't try to catch it or attract it.

chico berkeley
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Sep 30, 2022 03:54 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

It's not like there is a WS population problem.
You should watch the 6 part documentary about them.
I think there was 6 parts to the story if I recall.
Sharknado has a lot of white sharks, even in space!
Maybe they can put Newsome in the next one if they do it.
Lots of great cameos in the movies.
I think even some local celebs have met their demise in the series.

Basicinfo805
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Sep 30, 2022 02:50 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

I’ve never seen nor even ever heard of anyone chumming for white sharks around here. The only interactions of that nature are the researchers up near the Farallones dragging fake seals behind their boats and filming the whites blowing them out of the water for TV. There’s an interaction for ya!

BufordNgoleta
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Sep 30, 2022 03:02 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

I didnt think people with underwater cameras were a big threat the GW sharks.

I guess we all need to accept politicians making unnecessary laws. No problem to fix here, but who cares. Having their name on a bill, and collecting contributions is more important than your freedoms.

sacjon
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Sep 30, 2022 02:52 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

BASIC - we sometimes chum a little for fish, but not throwing buckets of tuna blood in for the purpose of seeing a GW come to the boat. Not many people do that, which is why I don't understand the pushback on this.

And those flying sharks in the Farallones are freaking bada$$!

sacjon
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Sep 30, 2022 02:22 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

Leave it to the cons once again to drag politics into this. Complaining about any little thing we do to try to help the environment. Why? What kind of coward tries to chum and kill a GW anyway? Boo hoo for the "big game" guys, but who cares if they can't get their kills.

sacjon
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Sep 30, 2022 03:24 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

BUFORD - you just want to complain. Not listen. The need for this law is to stop people from PURPOSEFULLY attracting great white sharks. You can still fish for threshers, just as I will be. You're angry ONLY because a democrat signed this, it's pretty clear.

You all complain about laws, saying "who will follow them?" How many rapists follow the anti-rape laws? How about murderers, etc?

Dude, just don't TRY to ATTRACT a GW and you're fine. Stop sweating it so much.

BufordNgoleta
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Sep 30, 2022 03:16 PM
California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks

So General, when I fish for Thresher shark (good tasting) I use a dead fish on a hook. You know what else will eat a dead fish? A GW if it sees the bait first. So I'm breaking the law putting this into the water - as you READ the article above. You know what happens when a GW eats my bait? The line snaps almost immediately. So again where's the need for this law?

BTW, your personal attack on people is the white flag of surrender. No persuasive thinking I guess?

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