New Rules Reshape Groundfish Fishing Off Central California

You might care about this because new rules are changing how and where people can fish for groundfish off central California. The National Marine Fisheries Service, or NMFS, is removing an old fishing closure area called the Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area. At the same time, they are putting in place a new area called the Cordell Bank Groundfish Exclusion Area. These changes are meant to make fishing rules simpler. They also aim to create more fishing chances while still keeping the sensitive environment around Cordell Bank safe. The original conservation area covered 64 square miles. Now, about 40 square miles are becoming open for fishing. However, a new, smaller exclusion area of 26.4 square miles is now closed to all groundfish fishing to protect habitats. This new rule is effective starting June 23, 2026. This action is a big step in managing West Coast groundfish fisheries. It balances the needs of fishermen with the need to protect important underwater ecosystems. The old area was put in place to help recover overfished fish. Those fish stocks are now healthy again. The new rules focus on protecting the seafloor and its unique marine life. What is particularly interesting about this rule is how it solves a long-standing problem of confusing fishing boundaries. Before, several overlapping closures with different rules made it hard for fishermen to know where they could operate. It also made it difficult for enforcement officers. By removing the old Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area and creating a new Groundfish Exclusion Area with boundaries that match an existing habitat closure, NMFS is making things much clearer. This new approach allows some areas to reopen for fishing while still protecting the most sensitive habitats. The rule also recognizes that the purpose of protection can change. The old area protected fish that were once overfished but are now recovered. The new area focuses specifically on safeguarding unique seafloor habitats like rocky reefs. It also introduces a clear definition for Groundfish Exclusion Areas as a distinct type of marine protection. This helps ensure that sensitive environments are protected regardless of the status of fish populations. The careful analysis that went into this decision shows an effort to allow fishing where habitat impact is minimal. This includes restricting gear types in newly opened areas. Many people will find this legal document very interesting. Commercial fishermen who target groundfish off the West Coast, especially near central California, will want to understand these new boundaries. This includes those who use trawl gear and those who use other gear types like pots or longlines. Recreational fishermen in the same region will also need to know where they can and cannot fish for groundfish. Beyond fishing communities, environmental groups and marine conservation organizations will be interested in how these rules protect sensitive habitats around Cordell Bank. This area is a national marine sanctuary and has important rocky reefs. Legal professionals specializing in environmental law or fisheries management will find the regulatory simplification and the new definition of Groundfish Exclusion Areas relevant. Scientists and researchers studying marine ecosystems, habitat protection, or the impacts of fishing gear will also pay attention. Anyone interested in the balance between economic activity and ocean conservation will find this document sheds light on current practices.