Major progress for Dungeness crab, steelhead restoration, and regulatory certainty in CA ports.
SB 1393, the critical fisheries legislation authored by longtime fleet champion Senator Mike McGuire, has officially passed out of the Senate with strong bipartisan support and is now heading to the Assembly.
Our state’s commercial and recreational fishing sectors support more than 100,000 jobs and drive hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity annually. SB 1393 delivers the modern management tools and operational flexibility our industry needs to stay resilient.
3 Key Reforms Under SB 1393
The bill introduces three vital updates directly affecting California’s working watermen:
- Vessel Transit Relief: Establishes clear, common-sense rules allowing vessels to transit through closed crab-fishing areas – providing much-needed operational flexibility when portions of the coast are shut down.
- Dungeness Crab Modernization: Updates and modernizes management regulations for one of the West Coast’s most valuable commercial fisheries.
- Habitat Restoration Funding: Strengthens the steelhead trout fishing restoration program and secures fresh investments for critical fishery habitat projects.
“This legislation gives California’s commercial fishermen the regulatory certainty they need to plan their seasons and protect their livelihoods.” – George Bradshaw, President of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA)
A Champion for Our Coast
As Chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture and host of the annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum, Senator McGuire continues to stand up for our coastal economies.
“The commercial fishing fleet is the lifeblood of rural coastal communities,” Senator McGuire noted following the vote. “SB 1393 advances the modern management needed to protect our natural resources, strengthen our fisheries, and keep our coastal and rural economies strong for years to come.”
What’s Next?
CFSI will continue to monitor SB 1393 closely as it moves through the Assembly committees. Stay tuned for updates on how you can help support this legislation as it nears the Governor’s desk.