The waters off California’s coast are home to more than 90 species of groundfish—like lingcod, sablefish, and rockfish—that support recreational and commercial fishing across the state. When a groundfish species is declared overfished, like Quillback Rockfish was in 2023, it triggers strict regulations that ripple through fishing communities and seafood markets. However, a new stock assessment, fueled by improved data collection efforts, shows that the Quillback Rockfish population is healthy and not overfished as previously thought. The state is responding quickly to improve fishing opportunities through updated regulations. It’s a reminder that robust monitoring, including community-powered science, is essential to adaptively manage our ocean resources – and support the Californians who depend on them.

At its June meeting, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) roll back certain groundfish regulations. This recommendation was based on the draft Quillback Rockfish stock assessment, which indicates that the California population size is above the management target.

This announcement is excellent news for the groundfish fishery, which faced stricter regulations after Quillback Rockfish were declared federally overfished in 2023.  The overfished declaration was based on a data-limited stock assessment conducted in 2021 and resulted in reduced fishing opportunities for both the commercial and recreational fisheries from 2023 to the present.

The state rapidly took in-season actions to restore commercial and recreational groundfish fishing opportunities that had been limited due to the previous assessment. On August 14, 2025 the California Fish and Game Commission approved California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) recommended emergency changes to California’s state recreational groundfish regulations that opened state waters north of Point Conception to all-depth fishing on August 28, 2025.  This decision received resounding support from the fishing community for the collaborative data efforts and rapid state response that made this decision possible.

The draft 2025 stock assessment included new data from a variety of sources, including the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP). CCFRP is a community-based science program, which brings together recreational anglers, charter boat captains and crew, and scientists to collect data on fishes inside and outside of California’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) statewide. With funding from OPC, CCFRP collects data on nearshore fishes to inform California’s management of the MPA network and federal stock assessments. This project helps to fill current data gaps, improve stock assessments and sustainable harvest regulations, and inform both MPA and fisheries management by providing CDFW and NMFS with biological information on California groundfish stocks, including Quillback Rockfish. Additionally, state-funded remotely operated vehicle (ROV) surveys conducted as part of California’s long-term MPA monitoring program also contributed valuable data to the updated stock assessment.

Rockfish species, including Quillback Rockfish, give birth to live young. However, these species are slow to reproduce, making them particularly vulnerable to overfishing. That’s why accurate data and responsive management are so vital for their protection and the communities that depend upon them.

California is leading the way in ocean sustainability through science-informed management and partnerships with state and federal agencies, tribes, fishermen, scientists, and coastal communities.

With careful monitoring and collaborative action, California is proving that it’s possible to balance conservation and fishing—and ensure a future where both thrive. To learn more about how OPC is advancing the sustainability of California’s marine fisheries by supporting innovative, science-based, collaborative management visit our fisheries page.

CCFRP volunteer angler, Shep, alongside science crew member Jessica C. (NMFS/UCSC) with a Quillback Rockfish (Sebastes maliger) caught, measured, and safely released during a CCFRP trip in the Farallon Islands sampling cells. Photo by Jessica C (NMFS/UCSC).

A CCFRP science crew member measures and tags a Quillback Rockfish (Sebastes maliger) on a CCFRP trip in the Farallon Islands sampling cells. Photo by Jessica C (NMFS/UCSC).