Federal officials propose new fishing gear rules to reduce whale entanglements 

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.