California Squid Dip Net 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 based on the lack of documented mortality or serious injuries of marine mammals based on the available data.

Distribution

The Category III CA squid dip net fishery targets market squid in nearshore waters, typically over sandy bottom habitat. Generally, the fishery north of Point Conception, mainly around Monterey Bay, operates from April through September. The fishery south of Point Conception is most active from October through March. The fishery is closed during the weekends (from Friday noon until Sunday noon) to allow for uninterrupted spawning. The majority of the fishing effort takes place at night relatively close to shore. Landings decrease during warm water trends of El Niño years, as squid are affected by warm waters associated with these ecosystem conditions. Strong El Niño periods can lead to substantial reductions in primary production. Catches usually increase during cooler La Niña phases and periods of increased upwelling.

Gear Description

Brail gear such as dip nets and scoop nets are used to harvest market squid in this fishery. Both of these are similar types of hand nets, which consists of a net or mesh basket, made from either wire, nylon mesh or cloth mesh, held open by a hoop. This hoop may or may not be connected to a handle that can differ in length. Generally speaking, hand nets with the hoop attached to a long handle are called dip nets and hand nets with no handle are called a scoop net. Lights of up to 30,000 watts may be used to attract squid.

Management

Market squid is included under the Pacific Fishery Management Council Coastal Pelagic Species (CPS) Fishery Management Plan, which specifies a management framework for all CPS. However, since 2005, this fishery is principally managed by the State of California under the Market Squid Fishery Management Plan. The squid brail fishery is a restricted access fishery, consisting of transferable and non-transferable market brail permits that must be renewed annually. There is also a market squid vessel permit that authorizes the use of round haul gear, including purse seine, drum seine, and lampara nets, along with use of brail gear. To use light to aggregate squid for commercial harvest, either a market squid brail permit, market squid vessel permit, or a market squid light boat permit is required. No permit is required for the transfer of squid at sea for live bait in an amount less than 200 pounds (90.7 kg) in a calendar day.

Historical Information

Timeline of Changes