IFB P2570006 Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP) Facilitation

The Ocean Resources Enhancement and Hatchery Program (OREHP) was created by the California Legislature in 1983 (Fish and Game Code Sections 6590-6598) to determine if hatchery-released marine finfish can enhance stocks of wild species through increased hatchery production of fish and to monitor fisheries to assess hatchery contributions. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) administers the OREHP with the assistance of a 10-member Ocean Resources Enhancement Advisory Panel (OREAP). CDFW and OREAP also receive guidance regarding program research activities from a Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). The goal of the OREHP is to enhance populations of marine finfish species important to California for their sport and commercial fishing value.
CDFW contracts with Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI) to culture juvenile white seabass for the ORHEP. HSWRI owns and operates the marine fish hatchery (Leon Raymond Hubbard, Jr., Marine Fish Hatchery). The primary function of the hatchery is to provide juvenile white seabass to growout facilities operated by volunteer organizations and HSWRI. HSWRI has also developed the culture protocols required for the program and assessment techniques required to evaluate the impact of hatchery-reared fish on the wild fishery.
In 2017, California Sea Grant (CASG) completed a multi-year evaluation of the OREHP to determine if the program had been a successful and cost-effective tool for white seabass enhancement and management. The evaluation report (CASG 2017) concluded that while the OREHP had significantly contributed to the scientific understanding of marine enhancement science, it had not substantially increased the abundance of legal-sized white seabass. The evaluation report did not make a recommendation as to whether the OREHP should continue; however, it did include objective-specific and program-wide recommendations. These recommendations led to the development of a comprehensive public information-gathering project to obtain stakeholder feedback on the OREHP, which was coordinated by CASG and the University of Florida (UFL).
In 2024, CASG and UFL completed their OREHP Stakeholder Engagement and Visioning Process project. The project was a three-phased, two-year long, comprehensive public information-gathering process to obtain stakeholder input to develop clear and shared goals for the OREHP, as well as success criteria and options for future development. Overall, stakeholders were supportive of the OREHP, with support rooted in stewardship ethic and the OREHP¿s contributions to research, conservation, and community participation. Stakeholders identified five broad goal components and criteria to consider when judging OREHP success: (1) contributions to research, (2) population/fisheries enhancement, (3) education and engagement, (4) fisheries and ocean management, and (5) transparent governance. Stakeholders also expressed support for broadening the OREHP (i.e., elevating activities that contribute to other goal components and further integrating the program with broader fisheries, environmental, and societal initiatives while maintaining hatchery and enhancement efforts). Additionally, the report provides examples of criteria for OREHP success for both short and long-term goals that are reflective of the outcomes of the stakeholder participatory process.
With the OREHP Stakeholder Engagement and Visioning project completed, the OREHP now needs to develop both short and long-terms goals and success criteria that are reflective of the outcomes of the stakeholder participatory process. To develop these goals and success criteria, CDFW is planning an in-person workshop with the OREAP, SAC, and HSWRI to ensure that these goals and success criteria are scientifically sound and realistic. CDFW will need assistance with a facilitator to help plan and facilitate the workshop/meetings, ensuring that everyone participates and that the goals and objectives of the workshop/meetings are completed. The goals and objectives of the workshop will be to (1) define/draft long-term outcomes and success criteria and associated short-term actions based off Table 1 (Exhibit A, Attachment 1) in the OREHP Stakeholder Engagement and Visioning Process project, and (2) establish subcommittees and workplans for each short-term action plan, including roles, responsibilities, budget, and timelines.
A joint OREHP-SAC workshop to develop recommendations on long-term outcomes, success criteria, and associated short-term actions and budget needs.  Workshop and/or subsequent meeting(s) will establish subcommittees and workplans for each short-term action plan, including roles, responsibilities, budget, and timelines.

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