California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new law aimed at protecting marine life by gradually phasing out the use of set gillnets, a type of commercial fishing gear linked to widespread ocean harm. Assembly Bill 1056 addresses the long-standing environmental threat posed by these nets while providing a pathway for fishermen to transition away from their use.
Set gillnets are mile-long nets anchored to the seafloor to catch species like California halibut and white seabass, but their near-invisible design makes them deadly for hundreds of other marine animals. Scientists and conservationists have documented high levels of bycatch, including sea lions, sharks, rays, and other fish, much of which is discarded. Despite decades of partial bans in Northern and Central California, the nets continued to be used in federal waters off Southern California and state waters around the Channel Islands, one of the most biodiverse ocean regions in the world.
AB 1056 introduces a gradual phase-out of these nets. Current permit holders can continue using them until retirement, but all permits will become non-transferable after January 1, 2027, with a one-time exception allowing transfer to a single family member. After that, permits cannot be passed on further, effectively ending the gillnet fishery in California over time.
Conservation groups welcomed the law. Caitlynn Birch, a marine scientist with Oceana, an international organization focused exclusively on ocean conservation, said, “Southern California’s ocean waters support an incredible diversity of marine life, which sustains ecosystems, fisheries, tourism, and coastal communities. AB 1056 is a balanced, forward-looking approach that protects ocean biodiversity while providing a fair transition for fishermen who rely on this fishery today.”
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Scott Webb, director of advocacy at the Resource Renewal Institute, noted that gillnets have threatened California’s ocean biodiversity for more than a century and that the law demonstrates the state’s leadership in ocean conservation.
Oceana experts say more selective hook-and-line fishing methods now exist to catch California halibut and white seabass. These techniques reduce bycatch, produce higher-quality fish, and are safer for the environment than gillnets.
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