SONOMA COUNTY, CA — California senators unanimously advanced a sweeping fisheries bill Thursday, sending a measure backed by fishing groups, conservation advocates, and coastal communities to the Assembly for its next round of review.
Senate Bill 1393, authored by Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, passed the Senate on a 39-0 vote and now heads to the Assembly.
The legislation targets the Dungeness crab fishery, steelhead trout restoration, and long-term support for commercial fishermen.
The bill would extend key programs supporting steelhead trout recovery, continue California's whale-safe Dungeness crab management framework, and create new funding opportunities for the state's commercial fishing fleet.
McGuire argues that the bill modernizes fisheries management while protecting marine resources and supporting working waterfronts that drive North Coast economies.
The measure extends California's steelhead trout fishing report-restoration card program through 2032 and increases fees beginning in 2027 to generate additional funding for habitat restoration and fishery improvement projects.
The bill also requires the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to provide updated reports to lawmakers on the program's progress and effectiveness.
SB 1393 also extends the state's Dungeness crab risk management framework through 2040. Regulators created the program to reduce whale entanglements while allowing commercial crab fishing operations to continue.
The legislation establishes additional rules allowing vessels carrying crab gear and catch to transit through closed fishing areas under specified conditions.
The bill further extends the Dungeness Crab Task Force through 2040 and creates a Dungeness Crab Fleet Subaccount designed to support industry priorities through a stakeholder-driven spending plan.
Fishing industry organizations, including the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, endorsed the measure, arguing it provides greater certainty for fishermen facing changing regulations, environmental challenges, and shifting ocean conditions.
The legislation carries particular importance for Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties, where commercial fishing remains a major economic driver. Supporters say the measure will help preserve fishing jobs, strengthen coastal economies, and provide long-term stability for one of California's most valuable fisheries.
“The commercial fishing fleet is the lifeblood of rural coastal communities here on the North Coast,” McGuire said in a statement Friday. “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.”
The Assembly will now consider the bill before it can move to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk for final approval.
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