California halibut anglers can now shift unused fishing quotas to other areas

US regulators propose new rules for Pacific halibut fishing off the West Coast. Anglers in Northern California can now transfer their unused recreational fishing quota to areas south of Point Arena.

Fishing quotas are usually fixed, which means if one area doesn't catch its limit, that fish goes unharvested. This change makes the system more flexible. It means more fish can be caught overall, even if local conditions or angler interest vary.