Gillnet fishing in the Channel Islands is meeting its grave. Fishermen can keep their nets in the water for now, but after Assembly Bill 1056 takes effect in 2027, they will only be able to transfer their permit to a single family member. And then it’s the end of the line.
Set gillnets are nearly invisible, mile-long nets anchored to the sea floor, intended to catch species such as California halibut and white sea bass. However, unsuspecting sea lions, sharks, and other animals can get trapped in their clutches. When that happens, if the catch cannot be sold, it is thrown overboard as waste. About half of all gillnet catches are discarded this way, according to conservationists.
Concerned by these casualties, Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) worked with ocean advocates Oceana and Resource Renewal Institute to author and pass AB 1056, which will eventually eliminate the use of gillnets off the California Coast…