California Sea Cucumber Trawl Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries

Current Classification on the List of Fisheries

^ Number of participants estimates are based on state and federal fisheries permit data. The estimated number of participants is expressed in terms of the number of active participants in the fishery, when possible. If this information is not available, the estimated number of vessels or persons licensed for a particular fishery is provided. If no recent information is available on the number of participants, then the number from the most recent LOF is used. NOAA Fisheries acknowledges that, in some cases, these estimations may be inflating actual effort.

*Observer coverage levels include the latest information reported in the most current final Stock Assessment Report (SAR).

¹ Indicates the stock or species is driving the classification of the fishery.

Basis for Current Classification

Classified as a Category III fishery by analogy to the WA/OR/CA shrimp trawl fishery because the fisheries use similar fishing techniques, habitat, and gear.

Distribution

The Category III CA sea cucumber trawl fishery predominantly targets the California sea cucumber/giant red sea cucumber, although warty sea cucumber is also harvested on rare occasions. Trawling for any sea cucumber is only allowed in Southern California, from Point Conception to San Diego. The trawl fishery operates primarily in waters between depths of 30-70 fathoms (180-420 ft or 54.9-128.0 m), with an average depth of 45 fathoms (270 ft or 82.3 m). 

Trawling for California sea cucumber is open year round in Federal waters. Any trawling for warty sea cucumber is closed for fishing in Federal waters from March 1 until June 14. Sea cucumber trawling is closed in the California Halibut Trawl Grounds (CHTG), which comprise California State waters not less than one nm from shore between Point Arguello and Point Mugu, from March 1 until June 15. 

Gear Description

In California, trawl nets consist of either single-walled or double-walled cod ends deployed via a single or double rigged trawl vessel with mesh sizes ranging from 1.75-2.25 inches (4.5-5.7 cm). In Federal waters, trawl nets used to take California sea cucumber must follow a minimum allowable mesh size of 4.5 inches (11.4 cm). In the CHTG, use of “light touch” trawl gear is required.

Management

The California sea cucumber fishery is a limited entry fishery managed by the State of California with transferable permits. There are currently no catch limits, or other size/sex-based restrictions. Historically, it was viewed as an incidental species taken in the California halibut and ridgeback prawn trawl fisheries. When separate sea cucumber dive and trawl permits were established in 1997, a provision was created that allowed individuals purchasing a sea cucumber trawl permit to either keep the permit as a trawl permit or convert the permit into a dive permit. The conversion of a sea cucumber dive permit to a trawl permit is not permissible. The permit is tied to the operator, and there is a requirement to submit a daily trawl log.

Historical Information

Timeline of Changes