Commercial Fishery Line Marking Prohibition

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is implementing a regulatory project titled Commercial Fishery Line Marking Prohibition. This action involves adding Section 181 to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations to prohibit all state-managed commercial fisheries from using line marking patterns that have already been assigned to other fisheries on the U.S. West Coast. The project is being carried out in state ocean waters and is classified as a special notice under NAICS code 114111. The primary objective of this prohibition is to prevent the misidentification of entanglement sources involving protected natural resources, specifically blue whales, humpback whales, and Pacific leatherback turtles. By ensuring the accurate identification of these sources, the Department aims to collaborate with stakeholders and partners to develop more effective strategies for reducing and mitigating future entanglements. This regulatory action is supported by a Notice of Exemption under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307 and 15308, as it pertains to the protection of the environment and natural resources.