California Nearshore Finfish Trap Fishery - MMPA List of Fisheries
U.S. fisheries are classified under the Marine Mammal Protection Act according to the level of incidental mortality or serious injury of marine mammals.
Current Classification on the List of Fisheries
Category | III |
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Estimated Number of Participants | 42 |
Target Species | cabezon, California sheephead, greenlings, and black, blue, brown, calico, China, copper, gopher, grass, kelp, olive, quillback, and treefish rockfishes |
Applicable Take Reduction Plans | N/A |
Observer Coverage | Portions of this fishery are observed under the Nearshore Groundfish Fixed Gear fishery. Annual coverage from 2009-2018 for the CA Nearshore Fixed Gear fishery ranged from 3-7%. |
Marine Mammal Species/Stocks Killed or Injured | None documented |
Basis for Current Classification
Classified as a Category III fishery based on the lack of documented mortality and serious injury of marine mammals based on the available data.
Distribution
The Category III CA nearshore finfish trap fishery targets nearshore species (cabezon, California sheephead, greenlings, and black, blue, brown, calico, China, copper, gopher, grass, kelp, olive, quillback, and treefish rockfishes) statewide using pot gear in shallow depths from 5-30 fathoms (30-180 ft or 9.1-54.9 m), usually within state waters. Because these species are caught for the live fish market, the gear is closely monitored with fishermen checking their gear every few hours to ensure quality product.
Gear Description
Pots used in the nearshore fishery vary and may be the same pots used in other fisheries (e.g., rock crab, CA spiny lobster, spot prawn). Finfish pots have a minimum mesh size of 2 x 2 inches (5.1 x 5.1 cm) and range in size from 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 m) on a side and 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 m) high. Fishermen targeting nearshore species are limited to 50 traps within state waters along the mainland shore. Finfish pots cannot be fished during the period from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. Whether pots are used individually or in a string, it is mandatory that the surface end(s) be marked with a buoy. The buoy is marked with the commercial fishing license identification number followed by the letter “Z”.
Management
California’s nearshore fishery is managed under the state’s Nearshore Fishery Management Plan (NFMP) as well as the Federal Pacific Coast Groundfish Management Plan and uses pots as well as hook and line gears in state waters. In addition to a state commercial fishing license, a regional Nearshore Fishery Permit or Deeper Nearshore Species Fishery Permit is required, as is a General Trap Permit and regional Nearshore Fishery trap endorsement (no trap endorsement is required for taking, blue, black, brown, calico, copper, olive, quillback and treefish rockfish). Most nearshore fishermen operate under the Open Access sector of the Federal groundfish fishery, although some have limited entry permits. Prior to 2021, the commercial fishery was closed in March/April, but became year round in 2021.
Historical Information
Original Category (Year added to the LOF) | III (1996) |
Original Number of Participants | 93 |
Basis for Original Classification | Listed as Category III based on the lack of documented mortality and serious injury of marine mammals based on the available data. |
Past Names |
CA finfish and shellfish live trap/hook-and-line (until 2009) CA nearshore finfish live trap/hook-and-line (until 2022) |
Species/stocks historically documented as killed or injured (but not currently on the list) | None |
Timeline of Changes
2023 |
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2022 |
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2009 |
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