West Coast Gets Urgent Green Light for More Rockfish and Sole
Published Date: 1/22/2026
Rule
Summary
Fishermen on the West Coast get a boost! For the first half of 2026, the allowed catch for shortspine thornyhead, canary rockfish, and petrale sole is going up because new data shows more fish are available. This emergency change helps prevent big money losses and lasts from January 21 to July 20, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Shortspine Thornyhead ACL Raised
If you fish commercially for shortspine thornyhead, the emergency rule raises 2026 limits: OFL 970 mt, ABC 902 mt, and ACL 897 mt (an increase from 825 mt, a 9 percent rise). Tribal harvest guideline is set at 54.4 mt and shorebased trawl allocation for 2026 is 506 mt (up from 406 mt in 2025). The rule runs January 21 through July 20, 2026 and is intended to give vessels more flexibility to fish without exceeding quotas.
Canary Rockfish Limits and Allocation Change
If you fish commercially or recreationally for canary rockfish, the emergency rule sets 2026 OFL at 673 mt, ABC at 626 mt, and ACL at 626 mt (up from 573 mt, a 9.5 percent increase). Tribal harvest guideline is 54.7 mt and the 2026 shorebased trawl allocation is 382 mt (up from 348 mt in 2025). The rule also removes the 40-10 precautionary buffer for canary rockfish for 2026 and runs January 21 through July 20, 2026.
Petrale Sole ACL and Quota Increase
If you target petrale sole, the emergency rule sets 2026 OFL at 2,676 mt, ABC at 2,489 mt, and ACL at 2,489 mt (up from 2,238 mt, an 11 percent increase). Tribal harvest guideline is 322.5 mt and the 2026 shorebased trawl allocation is 2,099 mt (up from 2,001 mt in 2025). The rule is effective January 21 through July 20, 2026 to help reduce economic harm from restrictive 2025 limits.
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