“Conservation areas are designated as such for a reason and we appreciate CDFW officers working to protect California’s natural resources.”

– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SAN DIEGO COUNTY –  On August 13, 2026, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDDFW) announced that officers from CDFW’s Marine Enforcement District, utilizing available enforcement technology, became aware of a pattern of incursions taking place inside the Swamis State Marine Conservation Area (SMCA), a State Marine Protected Area in San Diego County that prohibits offshore fishing by vessel.

CDFW officers set up a surveillance operation, spanning multiple days, to apprehend the violators. During the planned operations, CDFW officers saw a commercial fisherman with known previous violations actively fishing within the Swami’s SMCA. Officers in a CDFW aircraft watched as the suspects were actively fishing and retaining fish within the Marine Protected Area. Officers continued surveillance and ultimately contacted the vessel when it returned to port.

Once onboard the vessel, officers found multiple ice-filled coolers containing rockfish, yellowtail, and white seabass. Both commercial fishermen were arrested and released with citations for misdemeanor charges of fishing within the Swami’s SMCA. Pursuant to state law, the commercial catch was seized and sold by the department to a licensed fish business. The proceeds of the sale were seized and will be held by the Department until the case is settled in court. Any person who holds a commercial fishing license, and for commercial purposes, unlawfully takes fish inside a marine protected area, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $5,000.