California is taking another major step toward ocean conservation. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1056, a new law that will gradually phase out the use of set gillnets in state waters. The move marks a turning point for California’s fishing industry, balancing the needs of commercial fishermen with the state’s long-standing commitment to protecting marine ecosystems.
For decades, conservationists have warned about the environmental toll caused by gillnets, an old but effective type of fishing gear that’s long been associated with unintended harm to ocean life. Set gillnets are typically a mile long and anchored to the seafloor. They’re designed to catch high-value species such as California halibut and white seabass. The nets work by creating a nearly invisible wall of monofilament mesh that entangles fish by their gills as they swim through. Unfortunately, this same efficiency has made them notorious for catching a wide range of unintended species.
Scientists refer to this as bycatch, which includes everything from sharks and rays to sea turtles, sea lions, and even seabirds that dive too deep in search of food. Once trapped, most non-target animals do not survive. Because of this, the use of gillnets has been one of the most controversial practices in California’s commercial fishing history.
Gillnets were once used extensively along the coast, but decades of concern about declining populations of marine mammals and fish have led to a series of regional restrictions. Northern and Central California banned gillnets in the 1990s, yet the gear continued to be used in federal waters off Southern California and in state waters surrounding the Channel Islands. These waters are among the most biologically diverse in the world, home to migratory whales, dolphins, kelp forests, and critical nursery habitats for young fish.
With AB 1056, California is now closing the remaining chapter on this fishing method. The law creates a timeline for gradual retirement of existing gillnet permits rather than an immediate ban. Current permit holders may continue to fish until they retire, but beginning January 1, 2027, all gillnet permits will become non-transferable. The law allows for a one-time transfer to a single family member, but once that exception is used, no further transfers can be made. This means that over time, as older fishermen leave the industry, the gillnet fishery will fade out completely.
Supporters of the law say it strikes a fair balance between protecting ocean biodiversity and acknowledging the livelihoods of fishermen who have relied on the fishery for decades. “Southern California’s ocean waters support an incredible diversity of marine life, which sustains ecosystems, fisheries, tourism, and coastal communities,” said Caitlynn Birch, a marine scientist with Oceana, an organization devoted to ocean conservation. “AB 1056 is a balanced, forward-looking approach that protects ocean biodiversity while providing a fair transition for fishermen who rely on this fishery today.”
Scott Webb, director of advocacy at the Resource Renewal Institute, added that gillnets have posed a threat to California’s ocean biodiversity for more than a century. “This law reflects the state’s leadership in ocean conservation,” Webb said. “It ensures that future generations will inherit healthier, more resilient coastal waters.”
Modern alternatives to gillnetting are already available, and many fishermen have begun to adopt them. Oceana and other conservation organizations point to hook-and-line methods as a more selective and sustainable approach for catching California halibut and white seabass. These methods allow fishermen to target specific species with far less bycatch, while also producing higher-quality fish for market.
Gillnets, by comparison, have often been described as “walls of death” because they trap virtually anything that crosses their path. The nets can also continue to kill long after being lost or abandoned at sea — a phenomenon known as ghost fishing — where drifting nets entangle and kill marine life until they break apart or wash ashore.
By phasing out gillnets, California joins other regions that have acted to protect marine life from this destructive gear, including Hawaii and parts of Australia. The new law underscores the state’s ongoing effort to balance ocean health with sustainable fishing practices.
In the coming years, AB 1056 will not only reshape a historic California fishery but also strengthen the state’s broader commitment to conservation and responsible resource management. For boaters, anglers, and coastal communities, the hope is that these changes will help preserve the marine ecosystems that make Southern California’s waters among the most vibrant and productive in the world.
