Thanks to overwhelming response from anglers and hunters, the California state legislature 
backed off the resolution to remove Dan Richards from the California Fish and Game Commission. Richards had been unfairly attacked for taking part in a legal hunt and was being pushed to resign his post as president of the commission.

Anlgers reacted and began a petition to save Richards, who has been a voice or reason throughout the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) initiative, and a friend to fishermen. The public’s voice was heard and the state legislature is no longer considering a resolution to remove Richards from the commission.

For the past two weeks, California sportsmen and women have let their voice be heard speaking out in support of Richards. An avid angler and hunter, Richards had been attacked by extreme environmental and animal rights organizations for taking part in a legal hunt in Idaho.

Thousands of California sportsmen and women sent messages through KeepAmericaFishing to the state legislature and the commission in support of Richards. Many anglers also attended the March 7th commission meeting to provide comment and show support for Richards.

Why is Retaining Commissioner Richards So Important?

The organizations leading the charge against Richards have a much broader agenda. As a commissioner, Richards has consistently voted on the side of sound science and proven fish and wildlife management.

Richards has been a voice of reason throughout the MLPA initiative, a controversial program that threatens sport fishing in California, and the businesses and 20,000 jobs that depend on it by unnecessarily closing large areas of the ocean to recreational fishing.

If they had been successful in their efforts to remove Richards from the commission, these anti-fishing groups would have been one step closer to shutting anglers out of more of California’s best fishing spots.

KeepAmericaFishing does not believe the attacks are over and expects that the next tactic will be an attempt to unseat Richards as president of the commission. Please be ready to voice your support for keeping angler friendly members on the commission.

Richards was on hand at the Fred Hall sportsman show to speak with anglers and called the groups pushing the MLPA initiative the most “corrupt” entity he has dealt with in his career.