At its June meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission permanently revoked the commercial fishing licenses of two fishermen with repeated violations of state regulations.
Santa Barbara’s Christopher James Miller lost his commercial license and lobster operator permit after state officials documented abandoned and unretrieved traps, inaccurate catch records, and other violations. Miller was found to have left 156 lobster traps in coastal waters.
Fortuna’s Ronald Ghera also lost his license and Dungeness crab permit following repeated violations. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Ghera abandoned nearly 170 crab traps over two seasons, failed to service traps within the 96-hour requirement, neglected reporting requirements, and used improperly marked gear.
CDFW stressed that abandoned traps can entangle marine life and contribute to shortened seasons, directly impacting law-abiding harvesters.
Separately, CDFW enforcement cited four individuals in Los Angeles in August for illegally taking 236 spiny lobsters during a closed season. Most were undersized. The lobsters were returned to the water.