Help Protect California Ocean Biodiversity

The ocean ecosystem off Southern California is one of the most diverse and productive marine ecosystems in the world. But the whales, sea lions, sharks, fish, and seabirds that migrate, feed, and reproduce here all share a common threat: the risk of becoming entangled in set gillnets.

A bill in the California legislature — Assembly Bill 1056 authored by Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) — aims to protect California ocean biodiversity from gillnet fishing. This bill will end the use of set gillnets once and for all in California, through a long-term phase-out that allows current fishermen to continue fishing through their lifetime but prevents the future transfer of the permit.

By taking action now, you can help protect ocean biodiversity and support California’s transition away from high-bycatch gillnet fishing! Tell your state legislators to pass this bill now.

petition text

Dear {contact_data~salutation},

I support Assembly Bill 1056 by Assemblymember Steve Bennett that will help protect marine life from entanglement in the state’s set gillnet fishery.

Set gillnets are mile long nets weighted to the seafloor left to passively fish, intended to catch white seabass and California halibut. This fishing gear is notoriously difficult to manage due to the large nature of the nets that are designed to entangle a wide suite of ocean animals, with high rates of bycatch — unwanted species that are thrown back dead or dying. These nets entangle whales — including humpback and gray whales — sea lions, sharks, fish, and other wildlife. The fishery is also a threat to the recovery of iconic giant seabass, a top predator that was nearly fished to extinction. Many of the species caught in gillnets have unknown population statuses, and if fishing rates increase, the nets could pose serious risk to many vulnerable and unassessed species integral to marine ecosystem health and resilience.  There are already cleaner ways to fish for halibut and white seabass in California that do not unintentionally entangle over a hundred other marine animals.

In recognition of long-term ocean biodiversity goals, AB 1056 will phase out use of set gillnets over time while allowing existing fishermen to continue fishing through their lifetime. All gillnet permits would become non-transferable starting Jan 1, 2027, with the exception of a one-time transfer after 2027 to a single family member, after which the permit becomes permanently non-transferable.

This bill will help California maintain our role as a world leader for ocean health and the protection of marine biodiversity.

I urge you to support AB 1056.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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