OAL Approval - Amend Sections 150.06 and 150.16, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR) - Rescind California Groundfish Restriction Area (CGRA)
August 21, 2025
The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has approved the Department's Emergency Action to amend sections 150.06 and 150.16, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR) (OAL approval # 2025-08-11-05E). This action amends sections 150.06, and 150.16, Title 14, CCR, to rescind application of the California Groundfish Restriction Area (CGRA) and associated 20-fathom boundary line for commercial groundfish fisheries north of 37°07' N latitude (Año Nuevo).
This emergency action serves the general welfare by restoring commercial groundfish fishery opportunities for important target species that were restricted in state waters as a result of being harvested along with quillback rockfish. This action also extends federal trip limits for non-nearshore groundfish stocks into state waters north of 37°07' N latitude and commercial retention of quillback rockfish would remain prohibited, statewide. The area to the south of 37°07' N latitude would remain unchanged. Language clarifying that the continuous transit exception applies when the CGRA is in effect or in other closed waters is also proposed to be added.
Effective Period of 180 days
In accordance with the provisions of Government Code 11346.1, the emergency regulation is now effective for 180 days (August 21 through February 17, 2026). The Department may, following required notice, “readopt” this emergency regulation and extend the effective period another 90 days. During this effective period the Department may, following required notice, propose a permanent change to these regulations.
Documents
The approved rulemaking file includes the following documents:
Proposed Emergency Rulemaking: Amend Sections 150.06 and 150.16, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR) - Rescind California Groundfish Restriction Area (CGRA)
July 30, 2025
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) is providing Notice of Proposed Emergency Action to amend sections 150.06 and 150.16, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR).
The Department proposes to amend sections 150.06, and 150.16, Title 14, CCR to rescind application of the California Groundfish Restriction Area (CGRA) and associated 20-fathom boundary line for commercial groundfish fisheries north of 37° 07' N latitude.
On June 9, 2025, the draft stock assessment for quillback rockfish off California became available. This new, more robust assessment of the quillback rockfish stock indicates the California stock is healthy and not overfished as indicated by the 2021 quillback rockfish data moderate stock assessment. Therefore, the previous conservation emergency no longer exists, and the associated fishery closure and depth restrictions in state waters are now unwarranted. The emergency need for this action serves the general welfare by restoring commercial groundfish fishery opportunities for important target species that were restricted in state waters as a result of being harvested along with quillback rockfish.
The proposed action would also extend federal trip limits for non-nearshore groundfish stocks into state waters north of 37° 07' N latitude and commercial retention of quillback rockfish would remain prohibited, statewide. The area to the south of 37° 07' N latitude would remain unchanged. Language clarifying that the continuous transit exception applies when the CGRA is in effect or in other closed waters is also proposed to be added.
Written Comment Period
Any interested person may present statements, arguments, or contentions, in writing, submitted via U.S. mail or e-mail, relevant to the proposed emergency regulatory action. Written comments submitted via U.S. mail or e-mail must be received at OAL within five days after the Department submits the emergency regulations to OAL for review. The Department anticipates it will submit the rulemaking to OAL on or after August 7, 2025. For the status of the Department’s submittal to OAL for review, and the end of the five-day written submittal period, please consult OAL's website under the heading “Emergency Regulations.”
Please reference submitted comments as regarding “CDFW Emergency Regulations: Commercial Groundfish Management Measures” addressed to:
Reference Attorney
Office of Administrative Law
300 Capitol Mall, Suite 1250
Sacramento, CA 95814
Email: staff@oal.ca.gov
Fax No.: (916) 323-6826
AND
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Marine Region - Groundfish
Attn: Andre Klein
20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100
Monterey, CA 93940
Email: groundfish@wildlife.ca.gov
Documents
The current rulemaking file for this proposal consists of the following documents: