New Rules Reel in West Coast Groundfish Gear
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
This update affects fishermen with limited entry fixed gear permits on the West Coast by making their gear rules more flexible and removing old permit restrictions. It also tweaks how fishing spots are shared and hints at new cost rules coming soon. Comments are open until February 10, 2026, so fishers and folks can weigh in before changes swim into action!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Allow any legal non-trawl gear
If approved, amendment 36 would let limited entry fixed gear (LEFG) permit holders use any legal non-trawl groundfish gear to harvest their LE sablefish tier limits and groundfish trip limits, except entangling nets (including set nets, gillnets, and trammel nets). This change would apply to vessels fishing in the EEZ off Washington, Oregon, and California and is the Council’s final preferred alternative in the amendment.
Development of LEFG cost recovery program
The larger LEFG rulemaking also includes development of a cost recovery program for the LEFG primary fishery; that action does not require a plan amendment and will be considered in a forthcoming proposed rule. Amendment 36’s public comment deadline is February 10, 2026.
Remove base permit designation
Amendment 36 would remove the regulatory requirement to designate a base permit for LEFG permits; the Analysis says this designation is duplicative of the existing vessel length rule in 50 CFR 660.25(b)(3)(iii). NMFS and the Council found the base permit designation creates an unnecessary administrative burden on participants and agency staff.
Remove hours for primary season open dates
The larger LEFG rulemaking (separate from amendment 36) includes an action to remove the start and end times (hours of the day) for the open dates of the primary tier season. That action item does not require a plan amendment and will be addressed in a forthcoming proposed rule; public comment on amendment 36 is due by February 10, 2026.
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