Expansion of Pop-Up Gear Testing in the California Dungeness and Rock Crab Fisheries and Addition of Commercial Spot Prawn Testing (Greg Wells/National Marine S

2026020775

California Fish and Game Commission (CDFGC)

NOE - Notice of Exemption

2/20/2026

2/20/2026

Melissa Miller-Henson

California Fish and Game Commission

Executive Director

Lead/Public Agency

715 P Street 16th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 653-4899

melissa.miller-henson@fgc.ca.gov

Waters off the coast of California between the California/Oregon border (42° N. latitude) and Point Conception (34° N. latitude)

Categorical Exemption

Class 6 CCR., Title 14, Section 15306

Section 15306, 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 (Class 6 exemption). 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 project is to allow fishers and scientific partners to obtain limited, short-term exemptions from state fishing laws and regulations to engage in experimental commercial or recreational marine fishing activities that are otherwise prohibited to inform fisheries management. Specifically, the authorized EFP will expand the geographic scope of the fishing area, expand pop-up testing to the spot prawn fishery, add additional gear types, and provide flexibility for additional gear testing in the future. 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. All activities conducted under the EFP must comply with the terms and conditions placed on the permit for research purposes and the conservation and management of marine resources and the environment. As such, the project is the proper subject of CEQA's Class 6 categorical exemption. All activities authorized under the EFP Program are specifically prohibited from adversely impacting any established fisheries, marine living resources, or other natural resources under the provisions of California Fish and Game Code, Section 1022. An EFP shall be revoked if the continued use would have an adverse impact on any resource or allocation of a resource, or other adverse impact to established fisheries or other marine living resources (Fish and Game Code, Section 1022, subdivision (a)(2)). Therefore, the exceptions set forth in Section 15300.2, Title 14, CCR that would preclude the use of the categorical exemption do not apply and no further review is required.