CDFW News

Commercial and Recreational Take Restrictions in Place for Northern Anchovy in Monterey Bay Due to Public Health Hazard

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:27:32 GMT

State health agencies have recommended restricting the take of northern anchovy to bait use only for both the commercial (PDF) and recreational (PDF) fisheries in Monterey Bay after determining anchovies contain elevated levels of domoic acid.

Following this recommendation, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has enacted a restriction for the commercial and recreational take of northern anchovy (PDF) for human consumption in the area south of Pigeon Point, San Mateo County (37⁰ 11.000’ N. lat.) to a line due west from Point Lobos, Monterey County (36⁰ 31.461’ N. lat.). Commercial take of northern anchovy for bait use is allowed, though any anchovy sold as dead bait must be clearly labeled as not for human consumption or use in pet food. Recreational take is restricted to bait use only.

The current fishery restrictions only apply to northern anchovy, which have been found to have high levels of domoic acid in samples. This restriction does not apply to other finfish (including salmon, rockfish, halibut, white seabass, yellowtail, tuna, and others). It is always recommended to consume only the cleaned, skinned, fillets of fish when there are restrictions or advisories for other species. Cooking methods that avoid combining the eaten portion with other body parts are also recommended. More information on current health advisories is available on the California Department of Public Health website. For questions regarding sampling and testing programs, including current test results, contact the California Department of Public Health.

CDFW will continue to coordinate with the state health agencies, the California Department of Public Health and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to test domoic acid levels in northern anchovy as well as other fish species to determine when the commercial and recreational fishery restrictions in Monterey Bay can safely be lifted. State and federal laws prohibit the commercial distribution of seafood products for human consumption above federal action levels.

Domoic acid is a potent neurotoxin produced by Pseudo-nitzschia, a naturally occurring single-celled marine alga, under certain ocean conditions. Domoic acid can accumulate in fish without the organism itself becoming ill. At low levels, domoic acid exposure can cause nausea, diarrhea and dizziness in humans. At higher levels, it can cause persistent short-term memory loss, seizures and can in some cases be fatal.

Information will be updated on CDFW’s fishery information and health advisories website

To get the latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid, call CDFW’s Domoic Acid Fishery Information Line at (831) 649-2883.

For the latest consumption warnings, call the California Department of Public Health’s Biotoxin Information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.

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Media Contacts:
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858
John Ugoretz, CDFW Marine Region, (562) 338-3068

Monterey Bay Northern Anchovy and Pacific Sardine Commercial Take Restrictions and Recreational Advisory in Place Due to Public Health Hazard

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:17:01 GMT

State health agencies determined that northern anchovy and Pacific sardine (PDF) recently sampled from Monterey Bay contained elevated levels of domoic acid and recommended a commercial fishery restriction and recreational health advisory in the bay for the take of anchovy and sardine for human consumption in the area.

Following this recommendation, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has enacted a restriction for the commercial take of northern anchovy and Pacific sardine (PDF) for human consumption in the area south of Pigeon Point, San Mateo County (37⁰ 11.000’ N. lat.) to a line due west from Point Lobos, Monterey County (36⁰ 31.461’ N. lat.). Commercial take of northern anchovy and Pacific sardine for bait use is allowed, though any anchovy or sardine sold as dead bait must be clearly labeled as not for human consumption or use in pet food.

The current fishery restrictions and advisory only apply to northern anchovy and Pacific sardine, which have been found to have high levels of domoic acid in samples. This restriction does not apply to other finfish (including salmon, rockfish, halibut, white seabass, yellowtail, tuna, and others). It is always recommended to consume only the cleaned, skinned, fillets of fish when there are restrictions or advisories for other species. Cooking methods that avoid combining the eaten portion with other body parts are also recommended. More information on current health advisories is available on the California Department of Public Health website. For questions regarding sampling and testing programs, including current test results, contact the California Department of Public Health.

CDFW will continue to coordinate with the state health agencies, California Department of Public Health and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to test domoic acid levels in northern anchovy and Pacific sardine as well as other fish species to determine when the commercial fishery restriction and recreational health advisory in Monterey Bay can safely be lifted. State and federal laws prohibit the commercial distribution of seafood products for human consumption above federal action levels.

Information will be updated on CDFW’s fishery information and health advisories website.

To get the latest information on current fishing season closures related to domoic acid, call CDFW’s Domoic Acid Fishery Information Line at (831) 649-2883.

For the latest consumption warnings, call the California Department of Public Health’s Biotoxin Information Line at (510) 412-4643 or toll-free at (800) 553-4133.

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Media Contacts:
Peter Tira, CDFW Communications, (916) 215-3858
John Ugoretz, CDFW Marine Region, (562) 338-3068

CDFW Investigation Finds SoCal Restaurant in Violation of Fishing and Advertising Laws

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 10:36:43 GMT

Restaurant Managers Ordered to Pay Tens of Thousands in Penalties; Fishing Vessel Owner and Operators Prohibited from Commercial Fishing in State.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) wildlife officers conducted an investigation into Dudley Market, a high-end restaurant and fish business in Venice, Calif., for unlawfully selling seafood while advertising its products as traceable, sustainable and lawfully sourced. The investigation found repeated violations of state and federal commercial fishing laws in 2020 and 2021.

Prosecutors from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and Santa Barbara and Los Angeles County district attorney’s offices resolved the case through a civil enforcement action under California’s Unfair Competition Law. The case resulted in more than $100,000 in penalties for the restaurant and its managers, and fishing vessel owners and operators involved have been prohibited from owning or operating a commercial fishing vessel in California.

“Commercial fishing laws exist to protect our oceans and preserve marine ecosystems,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “These businesses lured the public into thinking they were caring for our precious resources, when in reality, their fish was unlawfully sourced. Sustainability was the bait, but fraud was the hook. The message is clear; this kind of deception will not be tolerated.”

Conner Mitchell, 37, of Venice, and Taylor Grant, 41, of Santa Monica, managed Dudley Market in 2020 through the business entities Dudley Street Oyster Bar and Shark Bite Fish Co. Grant later ended her association with the business, while Mitchell continued overseeing daily operations and seafood procurement. Mitchell operated the commercial fishing vessel Jamaica Day, which he and Grant used to catch fish for the restaurant. Cody Martin, 30, of El Segundo, operated the commercial fishing vessel Predator and supplied fish to Dudley Market.

CDFW wildlife officers served search warrants on cellular devices belonging to Mitchell and Martin, as well as the chart plotter aboard the commercial fishing vessel Predator. Evidence obtained during the investigation revealed repeated violations of laws governing California’s commercial fishing and seafood industry.

Under California law, it is illegal to sell sport-caught fish commercially. Fish taken by a commercial vessel also must be lawfully brought to port and documented on an electronic fish ticket before being removed from the vessel. This documentation is critical for CDFW and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries to effectively manage California fisheries and ensure long-term sustainability.

The investigation revealed numerous violations of California commercial fishing laws, including the unlawful purchase, possession and sale of sport-caught fish such as rockfish, bluefin tuna and yellowtail; commercial fishing activity conducted without required licenses; failure to lawfully document federally managed species brought to shore; illegal harvest of rockfish within restricted conservation areas and state marine protected areas; and the marketing of unlawfully sourced seafood as sustainable, traceable and lawfully procured.

As part of the settlement Mitchell, Dudley Street Oyster Bar and Shark Bite Fish Co. were ordered to pay $58,226.25 in civil penalties, $15,000 to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund and $1,773.75 in court costs and fees in May 2026. Grant was ordered to pay $40,000 in civil penalties and $10,000 to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in Jul. 2025. Martin was ordered to pay $8,000 in civil penalties and $2,000 to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in Sep. 2025. Grant and Martin are prohibited from commercial fishing in California. Gilmer Grant, owner of fishing vessel Jamaica Day in 2020, was ordered to pay $10,000 in civil penalties and $5,000 to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in Aug. 2025 and is prohibited from owning or operating a commercial fishing vessel in California. The settlement also requires compliance oversight measures, public disclosure notices and additional financial penalties should future violations occur.

“Angelenos deserve to know that the seafood they purchase is safely sourced from businesses that are following the law and not jeopardizing local marine life,” according to Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. “My office will always hold accountable those who violate laws designed to protect consumers and our fragile ecosystems.”

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch added, “Violating fishing regulations that are intended to preserve Marine Protected Areas threatens the environment and the fishing industry that depends on sustainable fish stocks in the future.”

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Media Contacts:
Kory Collins, CDFW Law Enforcement Division, (310) 944-8182
Cort Klopping, CDFW Communications, (916) 201-2958

CDFW Releases Ocean Salmon Harvest Tracking Tools

Fri, 22 May 2026 13:47:49 GMT

CDFW Releases Ocean Salmon Harvest Tracking Tools

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce the launch of new digital tools to track the recreational and commercial in-season harvests of ocean salmon.

The new tools, available at CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information page, will allow recreational anglers to easily track the number of salmon caught and number of salmon remaining under each regional harvest guideline. In-season management allows fishery managers to close salmon seasons early should harvest guidelines be reached.

With recreational and commercial ocean salmon fishing seasons underway, anglers may be interested in knowing how much catch has accrued, and when fisheries in each area will close.

“We’re excited to give salmon anglers the data they need to better plan their fishing seasons while at the same time leveraging technology to support in-season management and sustainable fisheries,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel.

Sport anglers can expect to see updates to the recreational catch tracker twice a month throughout the duration of the salmon season. Recreational catch estimates are calculated based on half-month sample periods, broken out into the first half and second half of each month. The recreational catch tracker will be updated following the conclusion of each sample period. Updates may become more frequent when total catch is approaching a harvest guideline. Any notices of fishery closures will be posted on the page when they are determined.

The 2026 recreational ocean salmon fishery opened in the Monterey area south of Pigeon Point (37°11’ N. Latitude) to the U.S.-Mexico border on April 11. Opening day for the California Klamath Management Zone and Fort Bragg area (from the California/Oregon Border south to Point Arena, 38° 57.5’ N. Latitude) is June 13, and the San Francisco (Point Arena to Pigeon Point) area will open June 27. Each fishing area is managed under a regional specific harvest guideline. Fishing will continue through scheduled open periods between June and August or until the harvest guideline is reached, whichever occurs first. Fishing will reopen in September for a portion of the San Francisco area and in the Monterey area under a separate fall harvest guideline.

Anglers are always advised to check for updated information when planning an ocean salmon fishing trip. Season dates, bag limits, possession rules and gear restrictions can be found on CDFW’s Ocean Salmon Fishery Information page. Public notification of any in-season change to regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (800) 662-9825 or the CDFW Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429.

Annual state regulations for ocean salmon automatically conform to federal regulations set by NMFS using the process described in Section 1.95(b)(2), Title 14, California Code of Regulations. Federal regulations for ocean salmon fisheries off California were published in the Federal Register (91 FR 29092) on May 19, 2026, and took effect on May 16, 2026.

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Kandice Morgenstern, CDFW Marine Region, (707) 494-4621
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714 

Recreational Crab Traps Restricted in Central Management Area to Protect Whales from Entanglement while Commercial Dungeness Crab Fishing Opportunities Continue

Fri, 15 May 2026 10:31:41 GMT

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel has assessed entanglement risk under the Risk Assessment Mitigation Program (RAMP) and announced a crab trap restriction in the recreational Dungeness crab fishery (PDF) in Fishing Zone 3 (Sonoma/Mendocino County Line, 38°46.125' N. Latitude to Pigeon Point, 37°11' N. Latitude). This change, which will go into effect at 6 p.m. on May 22, 2026, is intended to minimize entanglement risk as humpback whales return to forage off the coast of California.

A crab trap restriction was implemented in Fishing Zones 4 and 5 (Pigeon Point to Point Conception, 34°27' N Latitude) on March 27, 2026. CDFW reminds recreational crabbers that take of Dungeness crab by other methods (including hoop nets and crab snares) is allowed through the close of the season. All open Fishing Zones remain under a Fleet Advisory for the recreational Dungeness crab fishery. CDFW also reminds all fishery participants to implement best practices as described in the Best Practices Guide (PDF).

The commercial fishery remains open in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 (California/Oregon border to the Sonoma/Mendocino County line) under existing trap reductions and depth constraints. Fishing Zones 3-5 (Sonoma/Mendocino County line to Point Conception) have transitioned to use of authorized Alternative Gear (aka Pop-Up gear) through the remainder of the season.

CDFW anticipates the next risk assessment will take place in early June 2026. For more information related to the risk assessment process, please visit CDFW’s Whale Safe Fisheries page. For more information on the Dungeness crab fishery, please visit wildlife.ca.gov/crab.

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Media Contacts:
Ryan Bartling, CDFW Marine Region, (415) 238-2638
Steve Gonzalez, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714