Governor Newsom Signs Bill to Protect California Ocean Biodiversity
AB 1056 phases out offshore set gillnets to recude bycatch and protect channel islands wildlife
Horn shark between two rocks at Cat Rock off Anacapa Island. Danny Ocampo/Oceana.
Governor Newsom signed into law AB 1056 by Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura). The bill—sponsored by Oceana and Resource Renewal Institute (RRI)—protects ocean biodiversity off California’s shores by phasing out the use of set gillnets—mile-long nets anchored to the seafloor to catch California halibut and white sea bass. By removing this gear, the law will protect more than 100 different ocean animals that become entangled in these nearly invisible nets.
“California’s biodiverse underwater ecosystems are world-renowned, and we must do our part to keep it that way,” said Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura). “In my district, the Channel Islands Biosphere Reserve is recognized by UNESCO as one of the last examples of natural Southern California coastal ecosystems. A healthy ocean is critical to community well-being and is the foundation of multi-million dollar fishing and tourism industries. AB 1056 provides a fair and just transition to both fishermen and the fisheries affected.”
State waters around the Channel Islands and federal waters off Southern California are the last remaining places set gillnets are allowed. More than half of what set gillnets catch is thrown overboard as waste, including sea lions, sharks, rays, and other fish species. AB 1056 allows existing fishermen to continue fishing through their retirement and gradually phases out the fishery. While all gillnet permits will become non-transferable starting January 1, 2027, the law allows for a one-time transfer after 2027 to a single family member, after which the permit becomes permanently non-transferable.
Voices from the Coalition
Scott Webb, Director of Advocacy with RRI, added, “Today, California is showing why it is a global leader when it comes to protecting the ocean. Set gillnets have been deemed a threat to our state's biodiversity for over one hundred years, and with the encroaching effects of climate disruption, our seas are more vulnerable than ever. We thank Assemblymember Bennett, the California legislature, and Governor Newsom for walking the talk by sunsetting the last of California's offshore gillnets.”
Caitlynn Birch, Campaign Manager and Marine Scientist with Oceana said, “Southern California’s ocean waters support an incredible diversity of marine life, which in turn sustains ecosystems, tourism, fisheries, and coastal communities. AB 1056 is a balanced, forward-looking approach that protects ocean biodiversity while ensuring a fair transition for fishermen who depend on this fishery today. We thank Assemblymember Bennett for championing this effort, the legislature for advancing it, and Governor Newsom for signing it into law. Together, we are securing a sustainable future for California’s ocean ecosystems and the people and wildlife who rely on them.”
Red gorgonian coral. Danny Ocampo/Oceana.
Background
Set gillnets were originally banned in Northern California waters in 1915. California voters passed Proposition 132 in 1990, which prohibited the use of set gillnets within state waters off the Southern California mainland (0-3 nautical miles) and within one nautical mile of offshore islands. In the late 1990s, scientists discovered set gillnets were killing an alarming number of federally protected marine mammals and seabirds. In response, the California Fish and Game Commission banned the use of set gillnets off the Central California Coast in 2002.
Due to the complexities of these various actions, most Californians are unaware that set gillnets are still used in federal waters, around offshore banks, and in state waters around California’s Channel Islands, with continued high rates of bycatch. Waters off California’s Channel Islands are a globally significant region of ocean biodiversity, raising concerns about the impacts of set gillnet fishing gear to ocean life in the area.
More selective hook and line fishing methods are well-established for catching California halibut and white seabass that have significantly less bycatch and typically yield higher prices for fish considered better quality seafood.
The Channel Islands are one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth. This law protects them and the countless species that call these waters home. Thank you to everyone who spoke out, organized, testified, donated, shared, and signed on. We especially want to thank Assemblymember Bennett for championing this monumental effort! This was not easy to get through, and we are so grateful for his leadership in standing up for our oceans. This is what people-powered ocean protection looks like—and it’s a major step forward for ocean conservation in California.
Biodiversity around the Channel Islands, © Oceana. From left: 1) Gorgonian coral and garibaldi, 2) horn shark, 3) Spanish shawl, 4) kelp.
Map: Set gillnets were banned within state waters off the Southern California mainland (0-3 nautical miles) and within one nautical mile of offshore islands by California voters in 1990 due to bycatch concerns. Set gillnets were banned in Central Coast waters in 2002, in the San Francisco Bay Area since the 1980s, and off Northern California since 1915. Set gillnets are still used in federal waters, on offshore banks, and in state waters from 1-3 nautical miles around California’s Channel Islands, with continued high rates of bycatch. Map by Oceana.
