Deep-Set and Night-Set Buoy Gear Fishing within State Waters (Nathan Perez/Commission Tracking #2022-01)

The California Fish and Game Commission has authorized a major amendment to Experimental Fishing Permit Commission Tracking #2022-01, permitting the commercial use of deep-set and night-set buoy gear to target swordfish, Pacific bluefin tuna, opah, and other highly migratory species in California state waters, particularly around the Channel Islands and off the coasts of Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange counties. The amendment increases the number of authorized vessels and agents from three to five to enhance data collection on gear performance, catch composition, and bycatch rates, supporting science-based fishery management while ensuring minimal environmental impact. The project qualifies for a CEQA Class 6 categorical exemption as an information collection activity with no significant environmental effects, exempting it from full environmental review under state law. Compliance is mandated under Fish and Game Code sections 8603, 9025.5, 9028, and 1022, which govern gear specifications, hook and line limits, and prohibit any adverse impacts on marine resources that could trigger permit revocation. The amendment was approved on August 14, 2025, and publicly noticed on August 22, 2025, with submissions required to be mailed to the Office of Planning and Research and the Fish and Game Commission by the deadline. No federal procurement mechanisms apply; there are no contract clausess, pricing, delivery schedules, invoicing methods, or accounting codes such as AAC, TAS, or ACRN because this is a regulatory permit modification, not a competitive or funded acquisition. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife implements and oversees the permit activity, while the Fish and Game Commission retains final approval authority. There are no designated Contracting Officer Representatives, no financial transactions tied to the permit, and no socioeconomic or small business certifications required. All activities are confined to state waters, and inspections occur in the field during operations, enforced through regulatory compliance rather than formal acceptance procedures. No electronic submission options or digital file formats are specified, and all documentation must be submitted in physical, certified form.