California Moves to Phase Out Gillnets, Sparks Debate on Commercial Fishing Support

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1056 into law, initiating a phased elimination of drift gillnets in the state's waters. The legislation, enacted on October 13, 2025, restricts the transferability of existing gillnet permits, effectively phasing out the fishery as current permit holders retire. This move builds on previous legislative and federal efforts to reduce the use of these nets, often cited for high rates of bycatch.

Chef Andrew Gruel, a prominent voice in the culinary community, acknowledged the regulation as "reasonable" but expressed a desire for a more comprehensive approach. > "This is a reasonable regulation, however, I would have liked to have seen a balanced approach whereby they also increased commercial licenses and made permitting easier in the same bill," Chef Gruel stated in a recent tweet. He further suggested that > "The reduction of gillnetting should allow for more hooks on the water."

The new law, sponsored by organizations like Oceana and the Resource Renewal Institute, allows existing gillnet permit holders to continue fishing, but future transfers are severely limited, with only one more transfer permitted to a family member. This means that once current fishers retire, gillnet use will effectively cease in California. Environmental advocates have praised the bill as a crucial step in protecting marine life from the indiscriminate nature of gillnets, which have been linked to significant bycatch of non-target species.

While the focus has been on phasing out gillnets, the state has previously offered voluntary buy-out programs to assist fishermen in transitioning to alternative, more selective gear types, such as deep-set buoy gear. These programs, including one that concluded in 2022, provided financial compensation for surrendering nets and permits. However, the recent legislative actions do not explicitly detail concurrent measures to expand commercial fishing opportunities or streamline the permitting process, which remains a concern for some in the fishing industry.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) oversees commercial fishing licenses and permits, which are subject to various regulations and requirements. The process for obtaining and renewing commercial fishing licenses involves specific criteria and documentation, and some permits are limited entry. The debate over balancing marine conservation with the economic viability of the commercial fishing industry continues as California implements these new regulations.