Supporting Commercial Fishing Industry Transition to Marked Fishing Line on the West Coast: Purchase and Distribution of Line

Deadline for written questions: 02.25.2025
Deadline for submission of proposals: 03.26.2025

West Coast commercial fisheries have experienced higher levels of unintended species entanglements over the last decade. Fisheries managers at the state and federal level are implementing regulatory changes to require marked fishing line so that the root source of entangled species entanglements may be quantified and evaluated. Multiple sectors of commercial ocean fisheries are currently working to meet new requirements for marked fishing line. The color pattern of line and rigging configurations are determined by the regulatory agency for each sector. While there are multiple ways to meet the marked line requirement in terms of method of marking (including external marks that can be applied after manufacture and rigging of line), this RFP is considering manufactured line only, for which the color is an integral part of the fibers of the line itself.

PSMFC is seeking proposals for line purchase and distribution to fishermen, specifically for the California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fleet and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) line-marking requirements. The CA Dungeness crab fleet includes 500+ permits and each permit will be evaluated by the CDFW for eligibility to receive a one-time distribution of free line to help transition the fleet (and conversion costs) to using marked line in the fishery. This distribution will include a major push to equip the fleet prior to the start of the 2025-2026 fishing season (which starts November 15, 2025). The PSMFC will work closely with the Contractor (entity that is selected from this RFP) throughout the program to ensure that there is appropriate date, time, location opportunities for eligible Recipients to pick-up their allotment of free line at a centralized distribution location. The Vendor is the line manufacturer, as proposed and agreed upon in the contract. While this RFP and submitted proposals should focus on the California Commercial Dungeness Crab Fleet needs, there is a possibility that in the near future this RFP may be expanded to purchase marked line for other fisheries sectors.

Issue date: 02.14.2025

Download the full Request for Proposals

Download the Q&A (updated on 3/10/2025)

Feb. 14, 2025