Comment Log Display

Dear Board Members:

I am a fourth generation native Californian. I've lived in
California's coastal counties for 44 of my 45 years. My love for
the ocean and it's wildlife is endless. I'm active in whale
watching communities in CA as well as WA and OR. I have been
blessed to enjoy California's coast both as a passenger on private
boats as well as public whale watching and sportsfishing boats.

Governor Newsom's proposed passenger boat regulations require
changes that are not feasible from a safety, financial, or
operational standpoint. Should these regulations become law, 80% of
the boats that are currently operating in this industry will be
pulled from service. This will destroy the industry in a state
that's already seen such devastating economic loss due to the
pandemic.

Not only will hundreds of thousands of people be denied access to
our state's most epic resource, tens of thousands of jobs will be
lost, which will severely impact an already overburdened and
under-functioning state unemployment agency. This will also
negatively impact all of our local coastal communities that depend
on these industries to draw in tourists to help keep the businesses
that are still operating after pandemic closures afloat. Boat
operators that do attempt to update their fleets to be in
accordance with these proposed requirements will be forced to
increase their prices to a point that the majority of Californians
and visitors will be priced out. Schools and other educational
entities will be denied access to this amazing learning
environment.

Please consider the negative financial and educational impacts
these proposed regulations will have to us now and future
generations of Californians. Once done, this cannot be undone.