Seeking Your Feedback to Help Manage California’s Marine Protected Area Network

California MPA Network Map

Diver with MPA banner in Blue Cavern Onshore State Marine Conservation Area. CDFW photo

Kelp forest and rockfish. photo by S. Lonhart, NOAA

At its February 2024 meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission (CFGC) referred 20 petitions with over 80 unique requests to amend marine protected area regulations to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for review, evaluation, and recommendation.

The CFGC has approved a 3-phase approach to evaluate the petitions. CDFW has completed Phase 1 of the 3-phase approach and will present the draft proposed binning (sorting) of petitions to the CFGC at the Marine Resources Committee meeting on July 17, 2024 for further discussion.

The CFGC has requested public feedback on the draft proposed binning of petitions.

Marine Region’s 2023 By the Numbers Report Now Available

The 2023 By the Numbers report is now available for your reading pleasure. The By the Numbers report summarizes some of the most important commercial and recreational fishing statistics from the past year, for your easy review. It also includes a condensed summary of 2023 Marine Region accomplishments.

2023 was a year of high-highs and unfortunately low-lows, but Marine Region staff worked hard to ensure California’s marine fisheries and ecosystems

Commercial Crab Season in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 Set to Open Jan. 5, Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Delay Continues in Fishing Zones 3 – 6

Commercial crab traps
CDFW photo by C. Juhasz

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will open the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 beginning Jan. 5, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. A 64-hour pre-soak can begin on Jan. 2, 2024 at 8:01 a.m. in waters ranging from the Oregon state line to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line. The commercial fishery will remain delayed from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to the U.S./Mexico border (Fishing Zones 3, 4, 5 and 6) due to elevated numbers of humpback whales and increased entanglement risk.

CDFW Wants Your Input on New 20-Fathom Rockfish Conservation Area Boundary Line

Schooling rockfish
CDFW/MARE photo

Note: The comment period is now closed.

CDFW is seeking public review of a proposed 20-fathom Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) boundary line. The proposed line will allow commercial and recreational groundfish fishing in shallow waters, providing access to most nearshore rockfish while also minimizing catch and release of quillback rockfish, which may not be retained in California as of 2023. 

Crab Trap Restriction Lifting in Fishing Zone 1, Trap Restriction Remains in Fishing Zones 3 and 4, and Commercial Dungeness Crab Season Delayed

Dungeness crab
CDFW image

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is lifting the temporary recreational crab trap restriction in the area between the California/Oregon state line and Cape Mendocino (Fishing Zone 1). The trap restriction in this area will be lifted on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. At that time use of recreational crab traps will be allowed in Fishing Zones 1, 2, 5, and 6.