The department officially reinstated the June fishing closure and set a ten fish bag limit. This win belongs to all 406 of you who kept the pressure on the regulators. Keep an eye on our local beaches this summer to ensure these new protections are respected.
August 7, 2019
Final supporters
Grunion are small fish found only in California and Baja that are known for their spectacular spawning behavior as they come completely out of the water on sandy beaches during certain spring and summer nights. However, this behavior leaves them extremely vulnerable during the months when fishing is permitted. In addition to that, their habitat is shrinking due to sea level rise and coastal development.
In 1927 the months of April, May and June were designated by the CA Department of Fish and Game (now the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife) as closed to fishing to protect the species during their peak spawning season. In 1949, the month of June was removed from closure leaving only April and May protected. Since 2002 thousands of volunteer citizen scientists, the "Grunion Greeters", reported observations from spawning nights in part to assess the health of the species. Unfortunately the data show a decline in population causing significant concern for the future of this iconic fish.
We propose increasing protection by returning to the original closure for June in southern California, and through August for beaches north of Pt. Conception because the runs occur later there. Also, currently their is no limit on how many fish are allowed to be taken, so we propose adding a "bag limit" of 10 fish.
Read more information about the species and this issue here.
Updates
July 26, 2019
We just hit 250 signatures and this momentum proves people care about saving the grunion. Email your local representatives today to demand the June closure be reinstated. Send this link to three friends who live near the coast so we can pressure the Department of Fish and Wildlife to act.
Reached 250 supporters
July 24, 2019
July 23, 2019
We are gaining momentum but we need to pass this milestone before the Department of Fish and Wildlife starts their next review. Post this link on Facebook right now and text three friends to get them to sign.
Reached 100 supporters
July 9, 2019
97 Comments
Please protect the grunion! I'm a volunteer Grunion Greeter and getting to see the grunion come up on the beach is really special. We need to protect this species with no-take months and bag limits. Thanks!
Please protect the grunion! I saw my first grunion run in 1978. Today, I rarely see them when I make the midnight trek. They are an iconic California species! Please add June to the protected months for these amazing animals. Thank you!
As President of the Beach Ecology Coalition I all agree that making June closed to taking grunion, as it was originally, is a positive step in maintaining a viable population.
Help protect the grunion! I have seen first hand what a group of people can do. Worse yet, game wardens never check the beaches at this time, so many people catch the fish illegally with laundry hampers or colanders.... we need to do everything we can to protect them.
While I respect fishing as an avocation, I think these fish provide a greater good to people as a unique natural phenomenon that increases environmental education and awareness. Enacting these protections will help more people enjoy and learn from this species.
Save the grunion, save the human
I definitely support this additional protection.
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The department officially reinstated the June fishing closure and set a ten fish bag limit. This win belongs to all 406 of you who kept the pressure on the regulators. Keep an eye on our local beaches this summer to ensure these new protections are respected.
August 7, 2019
Final supporters
Grunion are small fish found only in California and Baja that are known for their spectacular spawning behavior as they come completely out of the water on sandy beaches during certain spring and summer nights. However, this behavior leaves them extremely vulnerable during the months when fishing is permitted. In addition to that, their habitat is shrinking due to sea level rise and coastal development.
In 1927 the months of April, May and June were designated by the CA Department of Fish and Game (now the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife) as closed to fishing to protect the species during their peak spawning season. In 1949, the month of June was removed from closure leaving only April and May protected. Since 2002 thousands of volunteer citizen scientists, the "Grunion Greeters", reported observations from spawning nights in part to assess the health of the species. Unfortunately the data show a decline in population causing significant concern for the future of this iconic fish.
We propose increasing protection by returning to the original closure for June in southern California, and through August for beaches north of Pt. Conception because the runs occur later there. Also, currently their is no limit on how many fish are allowed to be taken, so we propose adding a "bag limit" of 10 fish.
Read more information about the species and this issue here.
Updates
July 26, 2019
We just hit 250 signatures and this momentum proves people care about saving the grunion. Email your local representatives today to demand the June closure be reinstated. Send this link to three friends who live near the coast so we can pressure the Department of Fish and Wildlife to act.
Reached 250 supporters
July 24, 2019
July 23, 2019
We are gaining momentum but we need to pass this milestone before the Department of Fish and Wildlife starts their next review. Post this link on Facebook right now and text three friends to get them to sign.
Reached 100 supporters
July 9, 2019
97 Comments
Please do all you can to protect this vulnerable and declining fish species. The grunion is at the mercy of its genes and evolutionary history and human activities. We can only manage the impacts of human activities. Let's do this now before sea level rise and other ocean changes make the grunion's prospects even more gloomy.
Please protect the grunion! I'm a volunteer Grunion Greeter and getting to see the grunion come up on the beach is really special. We need to protect this species with no-take months and bag limits. Thanks!
Please protect the grunion! I saw my first grunion run in 1978. Today, I rarely see them when I make the midnight trek. They are an iconic California species! Please add June to the protected months for these amazing animals. Thank you!
As President of the Beach Ecology Coalition I all agree that making June closed to taking grunion, as it was originally, is a positive step in maintaining a viable population.
Help protect the grunion! I have seen first hand what a group of people can do. Worse yet, game wardens never check the beaches at this time, so many people catch the fish illegally with laundry hampers or colanders.... we need to do everything we can to protect them.
While I respect fishing as an avocation, I think these fish provide a greater good to people as a unique natural phenomenon that increases environmental education and awareness. Enacting these protections will help more people enjoy and learn from this species.
Save the grunion, save the human
I definitely support this additional protection.
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Your share link
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Please do all you can to protect this vulnerable and declining fish species. The grunion is at the mercy of its genes and evolutionary history and human activities. We can only manage the impacts of human activities. Let's do this now before sea level rise and other ocean changes make the grunion's prospects even more gloomy.