Comment Log Display

To Whom It May Concern:

The state's plan to regulate commercial fishing and whale watching
vessels by mandating diesel engine emission mitigation technologies
is short sighted and unnecessary. Sport fishing and whale watching
industries have been hit particularly hard by covid 19 regulations
imposed in 2020. Although these regulations have since been lifted,
the industry continues to struggle to get back to where it was pre
covid. 

The requirement to retrofit existing engines or to purchase new
engines will undoubtedly drive many, if not all, privately-owned
sportfishing and whale watching companies out of business for
good.

Everyone likes clean air and clean water, and the state has made
tremendous strides toward this end over the last few decades.
However, this plan goes too far. Perhaps a rule for new vessels
makes sense, but not for existing vessels. 

Diesel engine regulations in California are already some of the
strictest in the nation. Most vessels are re-powered with new
engines every 2-3 years anyways, so it is not like there are heavy
polluting engines still running out of the water.. Common rail
technology has made diesel engines cleaner and more efficient. 

We need to consider the economic and financial impacts of
environmental regulations and we should ease ourselves into rules
like this to avoid driving families out of business. And this won't
be limited to sporrfishing and whale watching. Other industries
could suffer. Even the state could suffer.. the Dept. of Fish and
Game will lose revenue. Please think twice before issuing
across-the-board mandates such as this.

James Slater