West Coast Groundfish Quotas Set for 2027-28 Season
Published Date: 9/22/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
This new rule sets fishing limits and rules for groundfish off the West Coast for 2027-28, affecting fishermen in Washington, Oregon, and California. It removes rebuilding plans for two rockfish species and changes some fishing area closures to help balance fishing and conservation. Comments on these changes are open until October 22, 2026, so stakeholders have a chance to weigh in before the rules take effect.
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
2027-28 West Coast groundfish limits
This proposed rule would set harvest limits and management measures for more than 90 groundfish stocks in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off Washington, Oregon, and California for the 2027-28 biennium. If finalized, commercial and recreational fishers in WA, OR, and CA would face the new annual catch limits (ACLs) and related rules for 2027 and 2028.
Yelloweye & quillback rebuilding removed
The rule would remove rebuilding-plan requirements for yelloweye rockfish and California quillback rockfish. As stated, ACLs for those two stocks would increase by more than 100 percent as a result of their rebuilt status (yelloweye was declared rebuilt in May 2026), which would open additional fishing opportunity in 2027-28.
Chilipepper rockfish ACLs rise sharply
For chilipepper rockfish, NMFS proposes to use the default harvest control rule, which would raise the 2027 ACL by 1,020 metric tons and the 2028 ACL by 904 metric tons compared with the more conservative alternative the Council considered. The rule notes higher ACLs may enable new market opportunities in central California.
Rougheye/blackspotted ACLs cut
For rougheye/blackspotted rockfish, NMFS proposes a conservative alternative setting the ACL at 300 mt for both 2027 and 2028. That alternative would reduce the ACLs by 544 mt in 2027 and 527 mt in 2028 compared with the default harvest control rule.
Widow rockfish alternative ACL proposed
NMFS proposes an alternative ACL for widow rockfish of 6,238 metric tons applied over 2027-28. That proposed ACL would be about 40 percent lower than the 2026 ACL of 10,392 mt, but about 26 percent higher than the 2027 ACL under the default harvest control rule (4,596 mt), so it reduces the sudden constraint the default would cause while still lowering catch relative to 2026.
Canary rockfish ACL increased
NMFS proposes an alternative harvest control rule for canary rockfish (coastwide) that sets ABC = ACL with P* 0.45 and removes the 40-10 reduction. This would increase the 2027 ACL by 37 metric tons and the 2028 ACL by 41 metric tons compared to the default rule and is described as providing meaningful relief to the fishing industry.
Petrale sole ACLs modestly raised
NMFS proposes a constant ABC = ACL of 2,489 mt for petrale sole in 2027-28 (the same as the 2026 emergency rule). That alternative would increase the ACL by 40 mt in 2027 and 66 mt in 2028 compared with the default harvest control rule, providing relief to commercial fishers.
Shortspine thornyhead ACL modestly raised
NMFS proposes a constant ABC = ACL of 902 mt for shortspine thornyhead in 2027-28 (same as the 2026 emergency rule). This alternative would increase ACLs by 55 mt in 2027 and 46 mt in 2028 compared with the default rule, offering relief to trawl and non-trawl sectors.
Yellowtail north phased ACL increases
For yellowtail rockfish north of 40°10' N lat., NMFS proposes a phase-in that sets ABC/ACL at 5,050 mt for 2027 and 4,730 mt for 2028 (one metric ton below the OFL for 2027). These values increase ACLs by 327 mt in 2027 and 190 mt in 2028 compared with the default harvest control rule and are intended to ease constraints on the midwater trawl sector.
Changes to some fishery area closures
The proposed rule would modify select fishery area closures that apply to both groundfish and Pacific halibut to better balance fishing opportunity and conservation. These area-closure changes would affect where commercial and recreational fishers can fish in the EEZ off Washington, Oregon, and California during 2027-28.
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