Deep-Set and Night-Set Buoy Gear Fishing within State Waters (Nathan Perez/Commission Tracking #2022-01)
Summary
SCH Number
2025081058
Public Agency
California Fish and Game Commission
(CDFGC)
Document Title
Deep-Set and Night-Set Buoy Gear Fishing within State Waters (Nathan Perez/Commission Tracking #2022-01)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/25/2025
Document Description
The experimental fishing permit (EFP) tests commercial use of deep-set buoy gear and night-set buoy gear to target swordfish and other highly migratory species within state waters. The applicant has requested changes to the approved EFP (Commission Tracking #2022-01), which is subject to review by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and approval by the California Fish and Game Commission. The purpose of the Project is to collect information on deep-set buoy gear and night-set buoy gear and the requested changes would revise the EFP terms and conditions to increase the number of authorized agents and vessels from three to five.
Contact Information
Name
Melissa Miller-Henson
Agency Name
California Fish and Game Commission
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Regions
Statewide
Other Information
Pacific ocean
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 6, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15306
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15306 of the CEQA Guidelines (Class 6 exemption), Title 14, CCR, provides a categorical exemption for information collection projects that consist of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. The section goes on to note that these information collection projects may be strictly for information gathering purposes, or as part of a study leading to an action which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted, or funded.
The purpose of the EFP Program is to allow fishers and scientific partners to obtain limited, short-term exemptions from state fishing laws and regulations to engage in otherwise prohibited commercial marine fishing activities to inform fishery management. EFPs may be approved for one or a combination of the following purposes: research, education, limited testing, data collection, compensation fishing, conservation engineering, and exploratory fishing.
The amended EFP will add additional fishers and vessels to the existing permit that gathers information related to testing deep-set buoy gear (both standard and linked) and night-set buoy gear (both standard and linked) to harvest swordfish, Pacific bluefin tuna, opah, common thresher shark, and other highly migratory species.
County Clerks
Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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