NOAA closes drift gillnet fishing off Southern California in June and July due to El Nino conditio
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Table of Contents
The National Marine Fisheries Service is closing a specific area of the Pacific Ocean east of 120 degrees west longitude to drift gillnet fishing from June 1 through August 31, 2026. This closure applies to waters off the coast of southern California known as the Southern California Bight.
Why it matters: This action is a routine but necessary enforcement of existing conservation rules designed to prevent accidental turtle deaths. While it restricts fishing access for two months, it ensures compliance with federal endangered species laws without requiring new legislation or complex negotiations.
Who it affects
- Commercial and recreational fishermen using drift gillnet gear in the specified area off Southern California
This final rule was issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service; check the original Federal Register document for full regulatory details.
Agency: Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source: Federal Register — read the official document