El Niño Prompts Three-Month Drift Gillnet Ban Off California
Published Date: 6/2/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting June 1 through August 31, 2026, fishing with large-mesh drift gillnets off southern California east of 120°W is temporarily banned to protect endangered loggerhead sea turtles. This closure happens because warmer ocean temperatures and a likely El Niño event could put these turtles at risk. Fishermen using this gear in the area will need to pause their activities for three months to help keep these turtles safe.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Three‑Month Drift Gillnet Closure
If you fish with large‑mesh drift gillnets (>=14 inches mesh) off southern California east of 120°W, you must stop fishing in that area from 12:01 a.m. PDT June 1, 2026 through 11:59 p.m. PDT August 31, 2026. NMFS says the closure responds to warmer March–April sea surface temperatures and an 82% chance of El Niño in May–July 2026 to protect endangered North Pacific loggerhead sea turtles.
Conditional Early Reopening Possibility
If sea surface temperatures return to normal or below normal during the closure, the Assistant Administrator may reopen the drift gillnet fishery earlier by publishing a Federal Register notice. That would let fishermen resume fishing in the closed area before August 31, 2026 if NOAA SST charts show cooler conditions.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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