West Coast groundfish fishermen can now use any gear type their permit allows

The US Commerce Department is proposing new rules for West Coast groundfish fishing permits. Fishermen with these permits will be able to use any type of approved gear, instead of being limited to one specific type.

For decades, fishermen with limited entry permits were locked into using only one type of gear, even if their permit allowed others. This meant they could not adapt to changing fish populations or market demands without going through a complex permit modification process. The change makes fishing operations more flexible and potentially more profitable for these permit holders.