State Sen. Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, has been named chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Wiggins represents the state's six-county 2nd Senate District, which includes Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

In addition to the new positions, Wiggins also chairs the Senate Committee on Public Employment and Retirement and the Senate Select Committee on California's Wine Industry.

Wiggins said she was honored to be named chair of the joint committee, which is charged with “protecting and enhancing fishery resources as well as consumers in an industry that continues to contribute to our state's economy.”

”We'll also oversee state and local activities related to fishing and aquaculture to address problems and ensure that those activities are in the best interest of industry and the public,” Wiggins said.

In addition to chairing the joint committee, Wiggins has also introduced a measure -- Senate Joint Resolution 4 -- that would put the Legislature on record as supporting an effort in Congress to assist fishing communities, businesses and individuals to mitigate the economic losses caused by declining Klamath River fall chinook salmon.

In brief, the bill seeks to build support for legislation by U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Congressman Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, to provide $60 million in relief for commercial fishermen and related industries due to the failure of the 2006 salmon fishing season.