House Bill 810 - Marine Fisheries Reforms

• Establishes comprehensive requirements for Fishery Management Plans including threshold and target biomass levels, ecosystem buffers, minimum size limits allowing 75% juvenile survival, and allowable catch limits with accountability measures for both commercial and recreational fisheries.

• Requires the Marine Fisheries Commission to end overfishing within two years of adopting a plan; if unsuccessful, grants the Commission authority to implement temporary rules and the Fisheries Director authority to close the fishery until permanent measures are in effect.

• Mandates Fishery Management Plans be reviewed at least every five years to ensure management measures meet rebuilding objectives for sustainable harvest, with annual updates to the Commission.

• Restructures the Marine Fisheries Commission with nine members including commercial fishermen, recreational fishermen, a fisheries scientist, fish dealers, and representatives with general knowledge; requires financial and bias disclosure statements from appointees and restricts voting on issues with significant financial impact to members.

• Establishes Commission communications through official e-mail accounts that constitute public records; prohibits electronic, oral, or other communications among a majority of Commission members outside official meetings; and subjects violations to investigation as unethical conduct.