Fish & Game Commission’s Legal Authority to Modify Trapping License Fees without Commission Petition Process

From:

 https://www.change.org/p/cfox-projectcoyote-org-end-commercial-and-recreational-fur-trapping-in-california

And: https://www.change.org/p/california-help-protect-wolves-in-california

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To:   fgc@fgc.ca.gov,

Cc:  info@projectcoyote.org

Subject: Fish & Game Commission’s Legal Authority to Modify Trapping License Fees without Commission Petition Process 

California Fish and Game Commissioners.

Sir, Madam:

A coalition of wildlife conservation groups successfully ended bobcat trapping in California in 2015. 

But the job was left undone: thousands of gray foxes, beavers, badgers, and other fur-bearing animals are still subject to cruel trapping for profit and recreation in California.

It's come to light that the state's oversight of its trapping program does not comply with existing state law.

A Fish and Game Code provision was added with the passage of SB 1148 (Pavley) for the 2013-2014 trapping season that requires license fees be raised to cover program and implementation costs from fee-based programs. Yet the Commission has failed to comply with this straightforward requirement for four years now.
I cannot stand for a fifth year of non-compliance.

If the Commission cannot ensure that trapping license fees are raised to a level that would realistically cover the state’s trapping program implementation costs, the Commission should eliminate the fur-trapping program.

Fewer than 100 Californians engage in commercial trapping for the fur trade. As public trustees of California's wildlife, the Commission should require licensing fees that are in line with the true cost incurred by this tiny minority of people who enjoy trapping animals for fun and profit.

That commercial and recreational fur trapping is still even allowed at all in California is shocking to most, but the fact that state wildlife managers have been illegally subsidizing this barbaric and antiquated practice at taxpayer expense is simply outrageous and unacceptable. 

I ask you to end the illegal subsidy of trapping immediately.
Comply with a never-enforced provision of California law.

I support a ban on all commercial and recreational fur trapping in the state.
Sincerely,