Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area Revisions
Published Date: 2/2/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government wants to change fishing rules near Cordell Bank off California to make things simpler and give fishermen more chances to catch groundfish while still protecting the ocean habitat. They’re removing the old conservation area and creating a new exclusion zone to keep sensitive spots safe. If you fish or care about ocean life there, you can share your thoughts by March 4, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Cordell Bank: Openings and New Exclusion
The rule would remove the Cordell Bank Groundfish Conservation Area (64 sq mi) and create a new Groundfish Exclusion Area (GEA) that is 26.4 sq mi. Overall, the proposal would open a net 10.2 sq mi to trawl gear and 40.1 sq mi to non-trawl commercial and recreational gear while about 37 percent of the original GCA footprint would remain closed; public comments are due by March 4, 2026.
Large-Footrope Trawl Prohibition Kept
The rule keeps the prohibition on trawling with large footrope gear shoreward of the 100-fm (183 m) line and south of 46°16' N latitude by transferring the 100-fm ring coordinates to Sec. 660.73. In the 10.2 sq mi area opened to trawl gear, only small footrope gear would be permitted under the trawl management rules.
Small Area Closed to Non-Bottom Contact Gear
The proposed GEA would close a 2.5 sq mi area that is currently open to non-trawl non-bottom contact gear; that 2.5 sq mi (previously permitted for some non-bottom contact fishing) would be closed to all groundfish fishing under the new GEA.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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