West Coast Groundfish Closed Areas

West Coast groundfish fisheries and fisheries that may take groundfish incidentally are managed with a variety of closed areas intended to either minimize the bycatch of overfished groundfish species or to protect groundfish habitat. Many of the closed areas are gear-specific, meaning they are closed to some particular gear types, but not others. We only provide information on marine areas closed to fishing by federal regulation. The states of Washington, Oregon, and California may have additional closures. Additional restrictions may also apply to activities conducted in a National Marine Sanctuary (Channel Islands, Cordell Bank, and Greater Farallon Islands).

Rockfish Conservation Areas

Rockfish Conservation Areas, or RCAs, are depth-based closed areas. The RCA boundaries are lines that connect a series of latitude and longitude coordinates and are intended to approximate particular depth contours. RCA boundaries are different depending on what types of fishing gear are being used. RCA boundaries are likely to differ between the northern and southern areas of the coast. RCA boundaries are also likely to change seasonally, and may also be changed during the year through inseason actions. The RCA boundaries are set primarily to minimize incidental catch of overfished rockfish, by eliminating fishing in areas at locations and at times when those overfished species are likely to co-occur with more healthy target stocks of groundfish. RCAs extending along all or part of the West Coast have been in place since September 2002. Beginning on January 1, 2020, the trawl RCA is removed off Oregon and California, re-opening approximately 2,000 square miles to fishing with groundfish bottom trawl gear.

Schedule of RCA boundaries:

• Trawl (Groundfish) RCA boundaries (off Washington only) for :
  • Limited Entry Trawl North of 40°10′ N Lat.
• Trawl (Non-Groundfish) RCA boundaries for:
  • Open Access Gears North of 40°10' N Lat.
  • Open Access Gears South of 40°10' N Lat.
• Non-Trawl RCA boundaries (coastwide) for:
  • Limited Entry Fixed Gear North of 40°10′ N Lat.
  • Limited Entry Fixed Gear South of 40°10′ N Lat.
  • Open Access Gears North of 40°10′ N Lat.
  • Open Access Gears South of 40°10′ N. Lat.
• Recreational RCA boundaries: See the West Coast Groundfish Recreational Fishery Management Measures and State Groundfish recreational websites.

Defining depth-based boundary lines:

Latitude and longitude coordinates for all of the potential depth-based lines that may form RCA and block area closure boundary lines are available in CSV format (comma-delimited ASCII text format) so that the data may be more easily used in mapping and navigation software. CSV files do not allow for multiple worksheets within a single file; therefore each RCA boundary has its own separate file. All of the RCA coordinates can be easily downloaded and extracted using WinZip. Please review the Rockfish Conservation Area Boundary Lines, then download the PKZip file (current as of 1/31/2023), and select the desired RCA boundary by scrolling through the list.

Block Area Closures

Beginning in 2020, Block Area Closures (BACs) are areas of federal waters that may be closed to groundfish bottom trawl fishing. Areas will be bounded on the north and south by a line of latitude or the EEZ boundary, and on the east and west by boundary lines that approximate depth contours. BACs, when implemented, would have restrictions very similar to those of the trawl RCA.

BAC boundaries and duration will be published in the Federal Register and announced in a fishery bulletin.

Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Areas

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires that fishery management plans describe and identify essential fish habitat (EFH) and minimize to the extent practicable adverse effects on EFH caused by fishing. EFH is defined as habitats that are necessary to the species for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity. Some EFH that is especially important ecologically or particularly vulnerable to degradation may be further designated as “habitat areas of particular concern” (HAPC) to provide additional focus for conservation efforts.

There are three types of designations for identified areas: EFH, HAPC, and EFH Conservation Areas. Only EFH Conservation Areas are closed to specific types of fishing. These areas are defined by latitude and longitude coordinates. Fishery managers must evaluate the effect of fishing and non-fishing activities on EFH. Fishery Management Councils may restrict fishing with specific gear types in EFH Conservation Areas as a protection measure.

Additional information, including maps and analytical documents can be found on the West Coast Essential Fish Habitat Page.

Coordinates

Current coordinates that define all of the EFH boundary lines are listed in Federal Regulation at 50 CFR 660.75 through 660.79 and are available via the links below:

• 660.75 - EFH
• 660.76 - EFH Conservation Areas
• 660.77 - EFH Conservation Areas off the coast of Washington
• 660.78 - EFH conservation Areas off the coast of Oregon
• 660.79 - EFH Conservation Areas off the coast of California

Data Point Files

Coastwide EFH Conservation Areas, last revised with Amendment 28 beginning January 1, 2020, have data points for latitude and longitude coordinates available in additional formats. The coordinate files were developed with the utmost care. However, they are not legal boundaries and any discrepancies between these files and the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.

• CSV Format - EFH Conservation Areas (CSV File, 62kb)

Maps

High resolution maps and a complete set of EFH-related mapping data are also available for download on the Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Data and Maps page.

Cowcod Conservation Areas

There are two Cowcod Conservation Areas, or CCAs, off southern California; a Western and an Eastern CCA. The Western and Eastern CCAs are defined by latitude and longitude coordinates at § 660.70.

The CCAs are closed to all commercial and recreational fishing for groundfish except:

1. commercial and recreational fishing for "other flatfish" is permitted for vessels using specific types of hook and line gear, as specified at §§ 660.230, 660.330 and 660.360;
2. recreational fishing is permitted shoreward of the boundary line approximating the 40 fm depth contour for minor nearshore rockfish, cabezon, all greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos, lingcod, and California scorpionfish and shelf rockfish, when the season for those species is open; and
3. commercial fishing for rockfish and lingcod with limited entry fixed gear and open access non-trawl gear is permitted shoreward of the boundary line approximating the 40 fm depth contour.

Cordell Banks Closed Area

The Cordell Banks are located offshore of California's Marin County, just north of San Francisco Bay. Commercial and recreational fishing for groundfish, except "other flatfish" as specified at §§ 660.230, 660.330 and 660.360, is prohibited in waters of depths less than 100-fm (183-m) around Cordell Banks as defined by specific latitude and longitude coordinates at § 660.70.

The Cordell Banks Closed Area has been in place in the Pacific Coast Groundfish regulations since 2005. Coordinates designating its boundary were revised in 2007.

Farallon Islands Closed Areas

The Farallon Islands, or Farallones, are a group of islands off San Francisco, California. The islands are: Southeast Farallon Island, Middle Farallon Island, North Farallon Island and Noon Day Rock. Generally, the State of California prohibits commercial and recreational fishing for groundfish (except fishing for "other flatfish" with certain hook and line gears, as specified at §§ 660.230, 660.330 and 660.360) in shallow waters between the shoreline and the 10 fm (18 m) depth contour around each of the Farallon Islands.

Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas

The Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas, or YRCAs, are various closed areas intended to protect yelloweye rockfish off the Pacific Coast. YRCAs are areas defined by latitude and longitude coordinates that, when connected in straight lines in the order they are numbered, create a polygon that is closed to certain fishing activities. All of the YRCAs listed below are defined by latitude and longitude coordinates found at 50 CFR 660.70.

The North Coast Recreational YRCA is a C-shaped area off the northern Washington coast intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The North Coast Recreational YRCA is closed to recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut and is designated as an area to be avoided (a voluntary closure) by commercial fixed gear fishers. This closed area was implemented in 1998 for the halibut sport fishery and was adopted for the groundfish fishery in January 2003. The name of this closed area changed from the YRCA to the North Coast Recreational YRCA in 2007.

The North Coast Commercial YRCA is an area off the northern Washington coast, overlapping the northern part of North Coast Recreational YRCA, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The North Coast Commercial YRCA is closed to commercial fixed gear fishing (limited entry and open access fixed gear). This closed area was implemented in 2007.

The Salmon Troll YRCA is an area off the northern Washington coast, overlapping the southern part of North Coast Recreational YRCA, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Salmon Troll YRCA is closed to fishing with salmon troll gear. This closed area was implemented in 2007.

The South Coast Recreational YRCA is an area off the southern Washington coast intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The South Coast Recreational YRCA is closed to recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut and is designated as an area to be avoided (a voluntary closure) by commercial fixed gear fishers. This closed area was implemented in 2007.

The Westport Offshore Recreational YRCA is an area off the southern Washington coast intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Westport Offshore Recreational YRCA is designated as an area to be avoided (a voluntary closure) by commercial fixed gear fishers and is closed to fishing in the recreational fishery. This closed area was implemented in 2009.

The Stonewall Bank YRCA is an area off central Oregon, near Stonewall Bank, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. The Stonewall Bank YRCA is closed to recreational fishing for groundfish and halibut. This closed area was implemented in 2005 for the halibut sport fishery and was adopted for the groundfish fishery in 2007.

The Point St. George YRCA is an area off the northern California coast, northwest of Point St. George, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. Fishing with non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Point St. George YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry fixed gear within the Point St. George YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. This closure may be imposed through inseason adjustment. This closed area was defined in regulations in 2009. See regulations at 50 CFR 660.230, 660.330, and 660.360 to see if this closed area has been put into effect in the non-trawl commercial or recreational fisheries via an inseason action.

The South Reef YRCA is an area off the northern California coast, southwest of Crescent City, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. Fishing with non-trawl gear is prohibited within the South Reef YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry fixed gear within the South Reef YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. This closure may be imposed through inseason adjustment. This closed area was defined in regulations in 2009. See regulations at 50 CFR 660.230, 660.330, and 660.360 to see if this closed area has been put into effect in the non-trawl commercial or recreational fisheries via an inseason action.

The Reading Rock YRCA is an area off the northern California coast, between Crescent City and Eureka, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. Fishing with non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Reading Rock YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry fixed gear within the Reading Rock YRCA, on dates when the closure is in effect. This closure may be imposed through inseason adjustment. This closed area was defined in regulations in 2009. See regulations at 50 CFR 660.230, 660.330, and 660.360 to see if this closed area has been put into effect in the non-trawl commercial or recreational fisheries via an inseason action.

The Point Delgada YRCAs are two areas off the northern California coast, south of Point Delgada and Shelter Cove, intended to protect yelloweye rockfish. Fishing with non-trawl gear is prohibited within the Point Delgada YRCAs, on dates when the closure is in effect. It is unlawful to take and retain, possess, or land groundfish taken with limited entry fixed gear within the Point Delgada YRCAs, on dates when the closure is in effect. This closure may be imposed through inseason adjustment. This closed area was defined in regulations in 2009. See regulations at 50 CFR 660.230, 660.330, and 660.360 to see if this closed area has been put into effect in the non-trawl commercial or recreational fisheries via an inseason action.

Deep-sea Ecosystem Conservation Area

The Deep-sea Ecosystem Conservation Area (DECA) is closed to fishing with bottom-contacting gears to protect deep-water habitats, including deep sea corals, beginning in 2020. Bottom contact gears mean fishing gear designed or modified to make contact with the bottom and include, but are not limited to, beam trawl, bottom trawl, dredge, fixed gear, set net, demersal seine, dinglebar gear, pot gear, and other gear designed to make contact with the bottom. This closure covers over 123,000 square miles (318,569 square km), and includes all federal waters (from 3 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles offshore) south of Mendocino Ridge, and seaward (west) of approximately 1,900 fathoms (3,500 m).

Coordinates, Data Point Files, and Maps

The DECA is the entire Exclusive Economic Zone seaward (west) of designated EFH, defined with latitude and longitude coordinates at 660.75 - EFH. Designated EFH have data points for latitude and longitude coordinates available in additional formats. The coordinate files were developed with the utmost care. However, they are not legal boundaries and any discrepancies between these files and the Federal Register will be resolved in favor of the Federal Register.

• Shapefile – DECA (.zip File, 38kb)
• Map – DECA, high resolution (PDF File, 1.0MB)

More Information

• Groundfish on the West Coast
• West Coast Groundfish Catch Shares Fishery
• Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat