# 2026-13054: West Coast Sardine Fishing Largely Halted for 2026

2026-13054, Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Annual Specifications; 2026-2027 Annual Specifications and Management Measures for Pacific Sardine, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published 2026-06-29, effective 2026-07-01; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13054
- As of: 2026-07-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-13054
- Title: Fisheries Off West Coast States; Coastal Pelagic Species Fisheries; Annual Specifications; 2026-2027 Annual Specifications and Management Measures for Pacific Sardine
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Commerce Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 39054
- Published: 2026-06-29
- Effective: 2026-07-01
- Comments close: 2026-07-14
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-07-06

## In one line

West Coast Sardine Fishing Largely Halted for 2026

## Summary

Starting July 1, 2026, most commercial fishing for Pacific sardines off Washington, Oregon, and California will be paused to help the sardine population bounce back. Only limited fishing for live bait, small catches, or special permits will be allowed. This plan sets clear catch limits to protect the fish and supports a healthier ocean and fishing future.

## Abstract

NMFS proposes to implement annual harvest specifications and management measures for the northern subpopulation of Pacific sardine (hereafter, Pacific sardine), for the fishing year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. This proposed rule would prohibit most directed commercial fishing for Pacific sardine off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Pacific sardine harvest would be allowed for use only as live bait, in minor directed fisheries, as incidental catch in other fisheries, or as authorized under exempted fishing permits. The proposed harvest specifications for 2026-2027 include an overfishing limit of 4,645 metric tons (mt), an acceptable biological catch (ABC) of 3,613 mt, an annual catch limit (ACL) of 2,200 mt, and an annual catch target (ACT) of 2,100 mt. This proposed rule is intended to conserve, manage, and rebuild the Pacific sardine stock off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California.

## Effects PRIA read

- Directed Sardine Fishery Closed: cost, low. Starting July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, most directed commercial fishing for Pacific sardine off Washington, Oregon, and California is prohibited because the estimated biomass is 30,158 metric tons (below the 150,000-mt cutoff). Only harvest as live bait, minor directed fisheries, incidental c…
- 2026–2027 Catch Limits Set: cost, low. For the July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 fishing year NMFS proposes an overfishing limit (OFL) of 4,645 metric tons, an acceptable biological catch (ABC) of 3,613 mt, an annual catch limit (ACL) of 2,200 mt, and an annual catch target (ACT) of 2,100 mt based on an estimated age 1+ biomass of 30,158 mt.
- Incidental, Trip, and Minor-Fishery Limits: cost, low. While the directed fishery is closed, incidental and minor allowances apply: a 20% (by weight) incidental per-landing limit for other CPS directed fisheries; if the ACT of 2,100 mt is reached, a 1-mt per-trip limit will apply to all CPS fisheries; non-CPS fisheries get a 2-mt incidental per-landing…
- Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) Opportunity: benefit, low. The Council recommended one exempted fishing permit (EFP) that requests up to 520 metric tons of sardine exempted from the prohibition; that EFP will be reviewed and potentially approved by NMFS through a separate process and, if authorized, would be counted against the ACT and ACL.

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## Sources
- [2026-13054 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/29/2026-13054/fisheries-off-west-coast-states-coastal-pelagic-species-fisheries-annual-specifications-2026-2027)
- [2026-13054 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-29/pdf/2026-13054.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-13047, Establishment Registration and Product Listing for Tobacco Products](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13047)
- [Next: 2026-13073, Administrative Leave for Workforce Realignment and Other Purposes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13073)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13054 (as of 2026-07-06).