In accordance with the Marine Life Management Act, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) convened a multi-stakeholder advisory committee (LAC) in spring 2012 to provide advice, feedback and recommendations on the development and implementation of a California Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan (FMP). In support of this collaborative effort, CDFW contracted the impartial facilitation services of the Center for Collaborative Policy (a unit of California State University, Sacramento) to organize a series of public and advisory committee meetings that inform development of the FMP. The recommendations are the result of extensive dialogue, deliberation and consensus building, resulting in a unified message to the California Fish and Game Commission as it considers future management of the fishery.

CDFW will make a brief presentation on these recommendations at the Commission meeting on December 11, 2013. No decisions will be made at this Commission meeting. To read the LAC recommendations and obtain further information, please visit the CDFW Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan webpage at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/lobsterfmp/committee.asp.