Sportfishing Industry Starts Petition Calling for Changes to CARB’s Proposed Engine Regulations

SACRAMENTO— The California Air Resources Board has proposed new regulations that would require the harbor craft sector to upgrade diesel engines with newer, cleaner technologies starting in 2023 in a phased-in approach based on the engine’s age and current engine type. The Sportfishing Association of California and a coalition of sportfishing landings, sportfishing charters, and other supporters, have started an online petition calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to move commercial passenger fishing vessels back under the commercial fishing vessel sector, which under the proposed rule will have less stringent requirements. The petition so far has garnered about 2,000 signatures, according to SAC Executive Director Ken Franke. “The rulemaking will simply make it to where we cannot comply and what CARB says is if you can’t comply, retire the vessel,” said Frank Ursitti, a managing partner of H&M Landing in San Diego, which has a fleet of 32 vessels, all independently owned and operated. The new regulations were released in April and are aimed at attaining regional air quality standards and reducing community health risk, according to CARB. Under the proposed regulations, all harbor craft, except commercial fishing vessels, would be required to upgrade to a U.S. EPA certified marine tier 3 or tier 4 engine...