West Coast Groundfish Quotas Tweaked for 2025-2026 Fishing Season
Published Date: 4/16/2025
Rule
Summary
This update lets fishing boats catch more healthy groundfish while keeping overfished fish safe. It affects both commercial and recreational fishers along the West Coast and adjusts rules for 2025-2026. These changes help balance fishing fun and fish protection without extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More Access for Commercial Fishers
If you operate a commercial fishing vessel on the West Coast, this rule updates 2025-2026 management measures so you can access more abundant groundfish stocks during the season. The changes are routine inseason adjustments meant to let commercial boats catch more healthy groundfish while protecting depleted stocks.
Safeguards for Overfished Stocks
This rule keeps protections for overfished and depleted groundfish stocks while making inseason adjustments for 2025-2026. The measures are intended to let healthy stocks be fished more while ensuring overfished stocks remain protected.
Recreational Anglers Gain More Access
If you fish recreationally on the West Coast, this 2025-2026 rule adjusts inseason measures so recreational boats can access more abundant groundfish stocks. The change is intended to let anglers catch more healthy groundfish while keeping overfished stocks safe.
No Extra Costs or Delays
The rule states these 2025-2026 inseason adjustments are made without extra costs or delays. That means commercial and recreational fishers should not face added fees or longer waiting times because of these changes.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-14204, Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date
NOAA is giving everyone more time before the rule that bans grappling or anchoring on Lake Ontario shipwrecks kicks in. Instead of starting in July 2026, this rule is now delayed until September 2028 to let NOAA set up mooring buoys and work with divers and boaters. This means boaters and commercial vessels can keep anchoring safely while NOAA gets everything ready without rushing.
2026-14195, Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are wiping away the official definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act starting September 14, 2026. This change affects anyone involved in protecting endangered plants and animals by shifting how “harm” is understood and enforced. It’s a big move that could change how projects and protections are handled, but no new costs or deadlines are added right now.
2026-05599, Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period and Virtual Public Hearings
NOAA got two applications from companies wanting to explore mining deep under the ocean floor. They’re holding virtual public meetings in April and want your thoughts by May 22, 2026. This affects anyone interested in ocean mining and how we protect our seas while exploring new resources.
2026-04256, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Starting April 3, 2026, new rules change shark fishing zones and times in the Atlantic to better protect sharks and manage fishing risks. Fishermen using bottom and pelagic longline gear will see updated area boundaries and must pay for electronic monitoring if fishing in certain safer zones. These changes help keep shark populations healthy while supporting responsible fishing.
2026-16870, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; North Atlantic Swordfish, South Atlantic Swordfish, North Atlantic Albacore, and Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Quotas
In this final rule, NMFS is implementing binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) on quotas for North Atlantic swordfish, South Atlantic swordfish, North Atlantic albacore tuna (northern albacore), and Atlantic bluefin tuna, including aspects of the management procedures for North Atlantic swordfish and northern albacore. For bluefin tuna, this action implements the increased U.S. baseline quota adopted by ICCAT in 2025, dividing it among the established regulatory domestic subquota categories, and implements changes to the bluefin tuna quota associated with pelagic longline bycatch adopted by ICCAT in 2025. Finally, this action transfers 30.8 metric tons (mt) of bluefin tuna quota from the Longline category to the Reserve category and temporarily adjusts the baseline quotas for U.S. North and South Atlantic swordfish, northern albacore, and the Atlantic bluefin tuna Reserve category for 2026 based on 2025 underharvests and applicable international quota transfers.
2026-16758, Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental to Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Ferndale Pier Maintenance Activities in Ferndale, Washington
In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued a renewal incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to Petrogas Pacific, LLC (Petrogas) to harass marine mammals incidental to Ferndale Pier Maintenance Activities in Ferndale, Washington.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-06440, Special Conditions: Airbus Helicopters Model EC175B Helicopter; Use of 30-Minute All Engines Operating Power Rating
Airbus Helicopters’ EC175B model has a cool new feature: it can hover using all engines at full power for 30 minutes, perfect for search and rescue missions. Since current safety rules don’t cover this, special new safety standards are set to keep everyone safe. This affects Airbus and anyone using this helicopter, ensuring top safety without extra costs or delays.
Next: 2025-06444, Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; 2025 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area to the Limited Access General Category Fishery
Starting in 2025, scallop fishing will be closed in the Northern Gulf of Maine for most limited access general category boats to protect scallop populations. This closure kicks in once the scallop catch limit is reached, but the area might reopen later if new rules get approved. Fishermen need to watch for official announcements to know when they can or can’t fish there.