Final Gear Marking and Entanglement Risk Reduction Measures in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
Single-line allowance effective October 13, 2026.
Gear marking provisions and surface line length limitation effective January 11, 2027.
  Illustration of pot gear deployed using the single-line allowance (upper) effective October 13, 2026 and illustration of bottom longline gear deployed continuing to mark both ends at the surface (lower). Single-line allowance applies to both gear types and is a voluntary measure, effective October 13, 2026. Credit: Tom Crestodina/Oregon Sea Grant
NOAA Fisheries implements (as filed, October 9, 2026) entanglement risk reduction measures and gear marking requirements that apply to vessels using pot or bottom longline gear in the commercial, non-Tribal, Pacific Coast groundfish fishery (including all commercial groundfish sectors). These measures were recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council at its June, 2024 meeting and published in a proposed rule on February 6, 2026 (91 FR 5408).
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Effective October 13, 2026, groundfish pot and bottom longline gear is no longer required to be marked on the surface at both terminal ends. Operators may choose to deploy, at their discretion, vertical line and surface gear at one terminal end of a set.
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Effective January 11, 2027, Gear-specific color schemes required for the top 120 linear feet (20 fathoms) of lines; orange/blue for pot and brown/blue for bottom longline. Lines for these gears in the water on or after 0000 hours January 11, 2027, must be in compliance with these new rules. Temporary marking of lines (see Compliance Guide for specifics and examples) is allowed through January 11, 2030.
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Effective January 11, 2027, Gear-specific buoy marking (tags or marks directly on buoys) required for all buoys (see Compliance Guide for specifics). Buoys for these gears that are in the water on or after 0000 hours January 11, 2027, must be in compliance with these new rules.
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Effective January 11, 2027, Length of each surface line (the line that connects any and all buoys in the surface gear) cannot exceed 60 linear feet (10 fm). Surface lines marking commercial groundfish pot or bottom longline gear in the water after 0000 hours January 11, 2027, may not exceed 60 feet in length.
All materials, including a Compliance Guide, will be available at NMFS West Coast Region website on our Gear Marking and Entanglement Risk Reduction page by close of business on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Additionally, some supporting materials are available on Regulations.gov. Search for “NOAA-NMFS-2024-0045”. Gear marking requirements are implemented consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act collection # 0648-0352.
Questions?
For more information contact Gretchen Hanshew, gretchen.hanshew@noaa.gov, 206-526-6147.
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