Brown Appoints Chuck Bonham as New DFG Director
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By Dan Bacher
Governor Jerry Brown has appointed Charlton “Chuck” Bonham, 43, of Albany, as director of the California Department of Fish and Game
Bonham has served in multiple positions at Trout Unlimited, a national trout advocacy organization, since 2000, including California director and senior attorney, according to a August 26 news release from Governor Jerry Brown's Office.
He was an instructor and trip leader for the Nantahala Outdoor Center from 1994 to 1997 and was a small business development agent for the United States Peace Corp in Senegal, West Africa from 1991 to 1993.
Bonham was not available for comment at press time, but representatives of recreational and commercial fishing groups praised his appointment by Brown.
"I think he's a good choice," said Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA). "I hope that he's able to resolve the funding issues that plague the Department of Fish and Game. How can you run a department when there is no money for research and enforcement?
Grader has worked with Bonham on Klamath River dam removal and hydroelectric relicensing. “We both appeared before Public Utility Commission to testify regarding permits needed for dam removal,” said Grader.
He said he believes that Bonham is somebody that both recreational and commercial fishermen “can work with.”
“I have known and worked with Chuck for a number of years,” said Dick Pool, administrator of http://www.water4fish.org and Secretary/Treasurer of the Golden Gate Salmon Association (GGSA). “I have great respect for his capabilities and dedication to fishery issues. We look forward to working with him."
Troy Fletcher, acting Executive Director of the Yurok Tribe, also was pleased with Bonham's appointment.
"I've worked closely with Chuck for years," said Fletcher. "He's been very instrumental in working on Klamath River dam removal and other agreements. I've enjoyed working with Chuck as a person and a professional. I think he'll make a good fit and the Yurok Tribe looks forward to working with him in his new role."
Bonham has a number of controversial issues to deal with in his new position, lead by the deaths of millions of Sacramento splittail and hundreds of thousands of other fish species at the Delta pumps this year because of record water exports out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
Other controversial issues Bonham will have to address include the privately-funded Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative, the campaign by the state and federal governments to build a peripheral canal, and the massive dewatering of the Scott and Shasta rivers every year by irrigators.
This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $150,112. Bonham is a Democrat.
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Dan Bacher is an editor of The Fish Sniffer, described as "The #1 Newspaper in the World Dedicated Entirely to Fishermen."
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Here's another issue I'm hoping that new Director Bonham will address with more savvy than did his predecessors: the live animal food markets found in various "Chinatowns" throughout California.
Every year we import two million American bullfrogs (commercially-raised in Taiwan), and some 300,000-400,000 freshwater turtles (mostly taken from the wild in states east of the Rockies, depleting local populations). None of these animals are native to California, and they cause immeasurable harm when released into local waters, a common though illegal practice. The exotics displace, out-compete and prey upon our native wildlife. I have photos of American bullfrogs eating baby western pond turtles, baby ducks and the fry of gamefish. This is a major resource issue, one which the Dept. has ignored for years. It is the Department's mandate to protect all the state's beleaguered resources. A ban on these harmful imports is needed NOW.
Over the past 15 years, we've had some 25 necropsies performed on the market turtles and frogs from throughout California (L.A., San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento). All these animals are diseased and/or parasitized: salmonella, pasturella, E. coli (all potentially fatal in humans), giardia, blood parasites, even one case of malaria. It is ILLEGAL to sell such products for human consumption, yet the commerce continues unabated.
Worse, a 2009 study published in BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION, reported that, of the market bullfrogs necropsied, 62% tested positive for the dreaded chytrid fungus, the prime suspect in the extinctions of some 200 species of amphibians worldwide in recent years. That alone should be adequate reason to stop the imports, no?
Early last year, after 15+ years of pressure, the Fish & Game Commission voted unanimously (5:0) to direct the Department of Fish & Game to cease issuing the import permits for the frogs and turtles. Victory at last! Or so we naively thought. Only weeks later, Director John McCamman announced at a Commission meeting that he would continue to issue the permits on a month-to-month basis. When challenged by the Commission, then-Deputy Director Sonke Mastrup (now Exec. Director of the Commission) responded, "The Director acts at the pleasure of the Governor."
Here's hoping that Mr. Bonham and Governor will see eye-to-eye on this important issue, and stop the import permits for the market frogs and turtles. The Commission has already received several thousand support letters for such a move from Zeke Grader's Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Assn., CalTrout, United Anglers of California, the Sierra Club, Earth Island Institute, and a host of others. Former Resources Secretary Huey Johnson wrote twice. Like the shark finning issue, this should be a "no-brainer."
Both the Department and the Commission may be written c/o 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Good luck to you, Director Bonham.
Sincerely,
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland
With the latest polls showing a real tightening on the measure, let's recall what is at stake, and take a write my term paper harder look at who is financing the campaign against this vital measure.