Contact: Deb Wilson-Vandenberg, Marine Region, (831) 649-2892 or Deb.Wilson-Vandenberg@wildlife.ca.gov

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) invites the public to attend a meeting in July to discuss management of Pacific halibut in California.

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday July 18th, 2013 at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center Conference Room located at 921 Waterfront Dr, Eureka, CA from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

The meeting will provide information on Pacific halibut management and possible changes to the fishery in 2014. The public is encouraged to provide input to managers and representatives, which will aide in the development of future Pacific halibut management.

Pacific halibut fishing seasons are developed through a collaborative regulatory process involving the PFMC, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Fish and Game Commission and the IPHC.

When additional meetings or opportunities become available for public comment, CDFW will post details on its Pacific Halibut webpage at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/pacifichalibut.asp and on the CDFW Groundfish Central website at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/groundfishcentral.

NOTE: The Pacific Fishery Management Council's ad hoc South of Humbug Pacific Halibut Workgroup will hold a webinar which is open to the public, on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 from 9 a.m. until business for the day has been completed. The objective of the meeting is to review analysis of recreational management measures designed to reduce Pacific halibut catch in southern Oregon and northern California (i.e., south of Humbug Mountain). The Workgroup is tentatively scheduled to report their findings to the Council at their September 2013 meeting in Boise, Idaho. Public comment will be accommodated through the webinar online platform. More information about the webinar is available on the Pacific Fishery Management Council website at www.pcouncil.org/2013/05/25406/south-of-humbug-pacific-halibut-workgroup-to-hold-webinar-june-12-2013/.