The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has announced that the commercial fishery for greenlings (genus Hexagrammos) will close Aug. 1, 2006 at 12:01 a.m. Last year, the commercial greenling fishery also closed on Aug. 1 because the commercial allocation of 3,400 pounds was reached.

Based on recent landing receipts and dockside tabulation efforts, DFG expects that by Aug. 1, the annual commercial allocation of 3,400 pounds of greenling (kelp and rock greenling combined) will be taken for the 2006 calendar year. The recreational fishery for greenlings will remain open.

The latest estimates from the DFG indicate approximately 3,000 pounds of commercial greenlings have been landed by mid July 2006. Historically, catch rates increase throughout the summer.

Greenlings (both kelp and rock greenling) are nearshore species of fish found mostly in California's northern and central coastal areas.

In May 2002, the Fish and Game Commission adopted regulations providing DFG the authority to close either or both the recreational and commercial sectors of the sheephead, greenling, and cabezon fisheries when their allowable harvest levels are projected to be reached.

Beginning in 2004, two-month cumulative trip limits went into effect for the commercial California sheephead, greenling, and cabezon fisheries in an effort to sustain those fisheries throughout the year. The greenling fishery has a two month cumulative trip limit of 25 pounds per nearshore fishery permit holder when fishing is permitted.