To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Bert Whitaker, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Commercial Berthing Credit at County of Sonoma Marinas
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Budget Resolution transferring $100,000 of FY 2023-24 General Fund Contingencies to Regional Parks to create the Commercial Berthing Credit Fund to finance a temporary waiver of dock fees at County of Sonoma Marinas for commercial fishing vessels experiencing financial hardship through the end of the calendar year. (Fifth District) (4/5th Vote)
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Executive Summary:
The commercial fishing fleet is poised to endure another significant economic setback due to the cancellation of the 2024 salmon season and delays in opening the 2023 crab season. On April 10, 2024, the Pacific Fishery Management Council acted unanimously to recommend closure of California’s commercial and recreational ocean salmon fisheries through the end of the year, mirroring recommendations made last year to close the fisheries in 2023.
For the past 2 years, crab vessels have been kept in port during the traditional season that normally begins in November so migrating whales won’t get tangled in lines that tether crab pots on the ocean floor to buoys on the surface. The crab season was opened this year by mid-January, but this delay caused significant financial hardships decreasing the pounds of catch and value following the end of the winter holidays and new year.
Just over half of the commercial fleet’s applied for monthly temporary berthing relief in 2023 and no fisherman that requested berthing credits abandoned their vessels. To be eligible, fisherman must demonstrate a financial hardship, possess an active commercial fishing permit issued by California Department of Fish and Wildlife and have caught and offloaded commercial volumes of seafood product in the past year.
Staff requests general fund contingencies to implement a 2024 relief program whereby individual commercial vessels may apply upon demonstrating financial hardship and reduce the likelihood of boat abandonments requiring removal and disposal.
Discussion:
The County operates three marinas in Bodega Bay, providing berthing and other services to support the commercial fishing fleet. Approximately 95 commercial fishing vessels berth at County-owned marinas in Bodega Bay.
This past winter’s crab season was shorter than usual with allowable crab catch equipment reduced by half to protect the whale population, impacting fishermen’s ability to catch crab by at least 50%. This year’s commercial and recreational salmon seasons were cancelled and the major storm in February 2024 disrupted fishing operations and resulted in fishermen incurring additional expenses due to loss of fishing gear.
The combined effects of this year’s shortened fishing season, last year’s cancelled salmon season, and several years of delayed starts and early closures for crab and salmon fisheries have resulted in significant financial hardship for commercial fishermen. Many fishermen, who have now experienced multiple years of financial hardship, have no revenue to cover dock fees. To remedy the situation, boat owners attempt to sell their boats, often unsuccessfully due to the serious impacts to crab and salmon seasons. This ultimately leads to the abandonment of vessels and the loss of means to earn a livelihood for some fishermen.
In June of 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved a request from Regional Parks to allocate $150,000 of General Fund contingencies with $100,000 available for temporary relief of dock fees for commercial fishermen and $50,000 for abandoned vessel removal.
The funds allocated for abandoned vessel removal are currently being utilized for the removal of two of the abandoned vessels. The vessels were abandoned due to the lack of funds to afford berthing fees. The removal process is currently underway and is scheduled to be completed by the end of spring 2024.
In connection with the 2023 relief program, Regional Parks collaborated with the Spud Point Advisory Committee and County Counsel to develop a streamlined application process, allowing individual commercial fishing vessels to apply for temporary berthing fee relief upon demonstrating a financial hardship. Fishermen with active commercial fishing permits issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who have caught and offloaded commercial volumes of seafood product in the past year, were eligible to apply, monthly, for dock fee waivers. Priority was given to individuals able to demonstrate significant financial hardship and meaningful contribution to the vitality of the local fishing economy. Additional consideration was given to circumstances where the fee waiver decreased the likelihood of a boat being abandoned and likely requiring removal and disposal.
The program was successful, with 50 to 57 boats receiving a berthing fee waiver monthly, from August through December of 2023. In total, Regional Parks provided 296 dock fee waivers at a cost of $94,259.24, supporting commercial fishermen and preventing vessel abandonment during this period.
Regional Parks is requesting the County provide an additional $100,000 in temporary relief of monthly berthing costs to support the commercial fishing industry, which has been affected by shortened crab and salmon seasons, to be allocated and used in conformance with the application process established in 2023. These funds will be used to provide temporary berthing fee relief to eligible commercial fishermen, who are essential contributors to the local fishing economy and can demonstrate significant financial hardship. Regional Parks requests authorization for a 6-month pause on late fees from May 1, 2024, through October 31, 2024. Late fees for past due amounts and other late rents will begin to accrue on November 1, 2024. Regional Parks staff will continue collaborating with the Spud Point Advisory Committee to work with monthly applicants, ensuring that those in need receive assistance with berthing fees. This support aims to bolster the local fishing industry and reduce the likelihood of vessel abandonment.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
June 12, 2023, approved the Abandoned Vessel Abatement Fund to remove abandoned fishing vessels from Bodega Bay Marinas and a temporary waiver of dock fees at County of Sonoma Marinas for fishermen impacted by the cancellation of salmon season and postponement of crab season.
January 12, 2016, approved a temporary waiver of dock fees at County of Sonoma Marinas for
fishermen impacted by the postponement of crab season.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$100,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
$100,000 |
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Total Sources |
$100,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The $100,000 of General Fund Contingencies will be transferred into the Spud Point Marina Special Fund. Unspent balance will be included in FY2024-25 Q1 Consolidated Budget Adjustments to support the [calendar/fiscal year] fishing season, if the negative conditions continue.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Budget Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None