Well, the meetings are done and the results are being put together for a presentation at the next California Fish and Game Commission meeting.

Responding to requests made by its constituents to conduct evening and/or weekend meetings, the Fish and Game Commission's (Commission) next meeting has been scheduled for Friday, February 2, and Saturday, February 3, 2001. Commission president, Mike Chrisman, stated that to his knowledge, "this is the first time that the Commission will be meeting on a Saturday, at least in recent history."

Commissioner Michael Flores, in attending his first meeting on April 7, 2000, was intrigued by the request made by several sportsmen in attendance. He convinced his fellow Commissioners to select one or two meetings which would include a Saturday when considering the 2001 meeting schedule. February 3 will be the first Saturday meeting. The Commission has also scheduled a Saturday meeting on August. 4, 2001, to receive public recommendations on 2002-2004 sport-fishing regulations. The Commission routinely schedules its special hearings for the evening.

The February 2 meeting will include discussions on the petition to list the Baja California birdbush as an endangered species, a petition to list coho salmon as an endangered species candidate, the Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) five-year status report on kelp management and harvesting, and the Maidu Tribe's request for special permission to utilize its traditional fishing methods to take salmon during the Feather River First Salmon Ceremony.

On Saturday, February 3, the Commission will receive DFG's report on its deer stakeholder meetings concerning the big game tag draw system, as well as consider the United Anglers of Southern California's request to restrict the type and amount of gear that can be utilized by commercial nearshore fishermen.

The Commission encourages the public's attendance and participation in the two-day meeting, especially on Saturday. For a complete listing of the agenda topics, interested individuals can log onto the Commission's website www.dfg.ca.gov/fg_comm/.

The February 2 meeting will commence at 10 a.m. and the February 3 meeting will commence at 8:30 a.m. Both meetings will be held in the Resources Building Auditorium, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento.