Mackerel Quotas Set: West Coast Fishery Closes at 9,448 Tons
Published Date: 3/18/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting July 1, 2025, and again in 2026, the government is setting new fishing limits for Pacific mackerel off the West Coast to keep the fish population healthy. If fishermen catch the set target amounts—8,143 metric tons in 2025-2026 and 9,448 metric tons in 2026-2027—the fishery will close to protect the stock. These rules help balance fishing fun with conservation and take effect April 17, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Directed Fishery Closes If ACT Reached
For the Pacific mackerel seasons July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 and July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the annual catch targets (ACT) are 8,143 metric tons (mt) and 9,448 mt respectively. If catch reaches the ACT in either season, the directed Pacific mackerel fishery will close; this rule takes effect April 17, 2026.
1,000 mt Set-Aside for Incidental Landings
When the ACT is reached, the rule reserves the 1,000 mt difference between the harvest guideline (HG) and the ACT as a set-aside for incidental landings in other coastal pelagic species (CPS) fisheries and other sources of mortality. The HG values are 9,143 mt (2025–2026) and 10,448 mt (2026–2027).
Incidental Catch Limits During Closures
If the directed Pacific mackerel fishery is closed after the ACT is reached, incidental landings are limited: in CPS fisheries no more than 45 percent by weight of CPS landed per trip may be Pacific mackerel, and in non-CPS fisheries up to 3 mt of Pacific mackerel incidental catch may be landed per fishing trip. Directed fishing for live bait and minor directed fishing remain allowed during a closure.
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