Fish and Game Commission moves new MPAs forward, adds tuna harpoons and two new trout waters

California's marine protected area network took a step toward growing. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Fish and Game Commission granted seven MPA petition actions at its October meeting, including two tribally led petitions to create new MPAs at Point Sal and Carpinteria Reef. Those come out of the 20 petitions filed in 2023 after the state's Decadal Management Review; 15 were still pending going into this meeting. Four non-regulatory actions are also moving ahead. Granting a petition is not the final word: the proposals now go through environmental review under CEQA and formal rulemaking.

Offshore anglers got a gear change. The Commission adopted rules allowing harpoons and flying gaffs to help land tuna in the recreational fishery, along with gear-marking requirements for commercial swordfish harpoon gear. A proposed clarification on marlin spears was not adopted.

Inland, roughly 29 miles of the West Fork San Gabriel River, including Bear Creek, became a Heritage Trout Water, and about 3 miles of the Arroyo Seco above Devil's Gate Dam became a Wild Trout Water. About 25 miles of Sespe Creek lost its Wild Trout designation, and the Fall River Complex was modified to drop Fall River Pond/Lake.

Saltwater anglers should also watch white seabass: a proposed change to the recreational minimum size is set for discussion at the Dec. 15–16 meeting in Sacramento, with adoption scheduled for Feb. 10–11, 2027.

Photo: Point Sal on the Central Coast, site of one of the tribally led MPA petitions. Credit: California State Parks, via California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: California Department of Fish and Wildlife — New and Expanded Marine Protected Areas Headed to Next Stage Following California Fish and Game Commission Vote (Oct. 23, 2026).