A Monthly Industry Newsletter for the Monterey Fishing Community

JAN 2024

Happy New Year!

We hope you had a joyful and peaceful holiday season and are feeling energized to embrace the opportunities of 2025. As we step into this new year, we’re excited to bring fresh energy, innovative projects, and a strong commitment to serving our community. Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming OPC discussion in our region, new groundfish regulations and compliance guides, MPA Collaborative meeting, and other exciting opportunities ahead. The challenges are real, but they won't hold us back. Let’s make this year a great one together!

New Groundfish Regulations

and Compliance Guide

NOAA Fisheries announces a final rule for the 2025-26 Pacific Coast Groundfish Harvest Specifications and Management Measures (Amendment 33), which was placed on public inspection today (see this link), December 13, 2024, and is scheduled to publish in the Federal Register on December 16, 2024. The new regulations will be effective on January 1, 2025.

This rule implements:

• 2025-2026 harvest specifications for groundfish caught in the US exclusive economic zone seaward of Washington, Oregon, and California

• Management measures intended to keep the total annual catch of each groundfish stock or stock complex within the annual catch limits; and

• Minor corrections and clarifying changes to the regulations, and more

Learn More

View the Comliance Guide

OPC Strategic Plan Public Listening Session

The Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is seeking early public feedback to inform OPC’s forthcoming 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. Building from the current 2020-2025 Strategic Plan to Protect California’s Coast and Ocean, the new Strategic Plan will guide OPC’s work to protect California’s coast and ocean through 2030.

A draft 2026-2030 Strategic Plan will be released in late Spring 2025 for written public comment. Please share your priorities to inform this draft Strategic Plan using the form below by 11:59 p.m. Monday, February 17, 2025.

Public Input Form

On Wednesday, January 8th there will be an in-person listening session to inform the draft 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. Please register for the listening session if you plan to attend. Please note important access and transportation information on the registration form.

Each listening session will begin with an introductory presentation, although members of the public are welcome to attend at any time during the two-hour listening sessions.

Wednesday January 8th

Location: Asilomar Conference Grounds, Mott Training Center
Address: 837 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

VMS Declarations Online Application

The NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement – West Coast Division (OLE - WCD) announces the rollout of an online application to receive Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Declarations (Declaration App).

It is recommended for anyone interested in using the Declaration App to please first contact the West Coast Groundfish Declaration Line (888-585-5518) in order to establish an online account and receive some simple instructions to begin the process of making VMS declarations online.

OLE – WCD will also continue to receive VMS declarations via the Declaration Line listed above, as well as via email to: wcd.vms@noaa.gov

Please address any related questions to the the West Coast Groundfish Declaration Line at (888-585-5518) or email to: wcd.vms@noaa.gov

Access the Declarations App

Monterey MPA Collaborative Winter Meeting

The MPA Collaborative is holding its quarterly meeting

Thursday, January 23rd from 2-4pm

at the Mott Training Center at Asilomar Conference Grounds, as well as offering a virtual option for those who would like to join this hybrid meeting remotely.

Get More Info

Upcoming Management Meetings

Ocean Protection Council Strategic Planning Listening Session

January 8

Monterey MPA Collaborative Meeting

January 23

Santa Cruz Port Commission Meeting

January 28

Moss Landing Harbor Meeting

January 29

Meetings Archive

Missed a management meeting? It's ok, they get recorded! Not only that, but you can go back and watch meetings from months...to years old.

California Fish and Game Commission

Pacific Fisheries Management Council

Other Fishermen Resources

Check out these new resources for groundfish closures. For more information about our programs and to access resources relevant to the fishing industry, visit the Fisherman's Portal on our website.

Fishermen's Portal

info@mbfishtrust.org | montereybayfisheriestrust.org

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