California Outdoors Enthusiasts Lose a Friend

[Mahigeer]

I got this Email and thought to share it:


Sonke Mastrup Resigns:
California Outdoors Enthusiasts Lose a Friend - Worse, California Fish and Game Commission Staff Loses its Leader

California's active outdoors community lost a friend this past week with the resignation of Fish and Game Commission Executive Director Sonke Mastrup. Sonke is a hunter and abalone free diver who came to the Commission from the Department of Fish and Wildlife where he had served as a Deputy Director under a number of previous administrations. The Fish and Game Commission sets policy for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Sonke understood what was necessary to not only get things in motion, but the legal and administrative steps necessary to ensure their un-litigated completion. Running the Commission requires skill and balance and for the past four plus years Sonke has done a remarkable job balancing not only fishing and hunting interests, but also ensuring that the underlying conservation issues were properly addressed. Let me add that there is far more to the Commission than just completing the tasks at hand. Sonke had not only the wisdom to look ahead, but the vision and courage to take on and help mold that future. He did a fine job and the California outdoors community will miss him more than they know.

Why is this important you ask? The California Fish and Game Commission is made up of 5 Commissioners appointed by the governor. The commissioner's terms run 6 years, are staggered and have few specific guidelines. There has generally been a balance of commissioners between hunters and fishermen who all understood the value conservation played in managing natural resources. Over the past decade in particular, a far stronger environmental voice has emerged among newer Commission appointments. Recently, such non-consumptive viewpoints have tested the collegiality of the Commission. While there is clearly more to resource management than just hunting and fishing, outdoors interests have been relegated to a lesser stature than they have enjoyed over the preceding century. It is important to note here that this community has also served as the financial backbone DFW to the tune of $130,0000,000 annually. These changes have been particularly difficult for this community's old guard who are quick to dig in heels and slow to embrace California's changing demographics. To his credit, Sonke took extraordinary pains in this changing scene to provide a balanced, responsible playing field for California's challenged resources and importantly the entire Commission.

Unfortunately for the Commission and in fact for all Californians that responsible balance took a stunning turn this past week with Sonke's resignation. My guess is that he finally got tired. Filling this void and finding a replacement combining Sonke's knowledge and vision will be difficult. I personally want to thank him for his extraordinary efforts, in particular for his dedication to the outdoors community, especially over this past year.

Tight lines,

Tom Raftican

[Saba Slayer]

Sonke Mastrup sat in on almost all the Lobster Advisory Committee meetings and was extremely helpful with his insight on the Commission and the regulatory process....he was a fisherman, diver, and a dungeness crab hoop netter...he will be sorely missed...!!!