MENDOCINO CO., 2/10/26 – Commercial fishermen along the Mendocino Coast could see changes in how their gear must be marked under a new federal proposal aimed at reducing whale entanglements in West Coast waters.
NOAA Fisheries is accepting public comment through March 9 on a set of proposed rules that would update gear-marking requirements for vessels using pot gear and bottom longline gear in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery — a fishery that includes boats operating out of Fort Bragg, Arena Cove and other North Coast ports.
The proposal includes a shift in how some fishing gear would be labeled, allowing operators using pot gear to mark only one end of a line instead of both. Federal managers say the change is intended to improve gear identification while reducing the amount of vertical line in the water — a key factor in whale entanglements.
The rules under consideration stem from recommendations approved last year by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, which advises federal regulators on West Coast fisheries management.
In addition to environmental impacts, federal officials are also seeking feedback on how the proposed requirements could affect fishing costs, a step required before new paperwork or reporting rules can be finalized.
Public comments will be reviewed before any final decision is made. Fishermen, coastal residents and other interested parties can submit feedback at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/06/2026-02370/magnuson-stevens-act-provisions-fisheries-off-west-coast-states-pacific-coast-groundfish-fishery.