Shelf Rockfish Hook & Line Survey

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a scientific research permit to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under Fish and Game Code Section 2081(a) to conduct year-round sampling activities in the Southern California Bight through December 31, 2028. The primary research focus involves hook-and-line baited shrimpfly surveys targeting rockfish species across nearshore and offshore waters in Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. The permit explicitly authorizes incidental capture of the Southern California Distinct Population Segment of steelhead trout for scientific study, with all activities designed to minimize environmental impact. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review under California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 15306, as an information collection activity with no significant disturbance to protected resources. The lead implementing party is John Harms of NOAA, with Dylan Inskeep serving as the primary contact for the State agency. No formal procurement structure, pricing, or contractual clauses from the Federal Acquisition Regulation are applicable, as this is a permitting arrangement governed by state wildlife law rather than a federal contract. Performance is conducted entirely in the field, with oversight and acceptance responsibilities vested in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and no payment, delivery, packaging, or invoicing procedures are involved.