West Coast sablefish permit holders get more flexibility as new federal rule takes effect Aug. 6

Commercial fishers holding limited entry fixed gear permits for West Coast sablefish will no longer be locked into specific start and end times each fishing day once a new federal rule takes effect Aug. 6.

What Changes

National Marine Fisheries Service finalized Amendment 36 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan on Wednesday. The old rules tied the primary sablefish season to clock times, opening at noon on April 1 and closing at noon on December 31. The new rule strips those time-of-day requirements, removes the base permit designation for LEFG permits, and adds gear endorsement flexibility, cutting paperwork for permit owners including Alaska-based participants.

Cost Recovery

The rule also establishes a cost recovery program under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which collects fees from permit holders to offset federal management costs. Compliance is deferred until no earlier than December 1, 2027.