Fishery management is an ongoing and iterative process. CDFW staff are actively engaged in further developing our understanding of California spiny lobster (Panulirus interruptus) to better manage the commercial and recreational fisheries. Over the years these efforts have accumulated into a substantial body of work.
With input from stakeholders, CDFW developed the California Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan that was adopted by the California Fish and Game Commission on April 13, 2016. The fishery management plan serves as the foundation for managing the spiny lobster fishery. More information is available on the California Spiny Lobster Fishery Management Plan page. In 2020, CDFW published the California Spiny Lobster Enhanced Status Report with the most up-to-date information on the species and the fisheries. In 2023, the state further refined spiny lobster fishing regulations to improve management of the fisheries.