Title FGC, California Fish & Game Code

Cooperative hunting areas, as described in Section 1575, may be established in connection with any area opened to hunting under the provisions of this article. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 154, Sec. 17. (AB 1527) Effective January 1, 2016.)

(a) Except as provided for in Section 4005, fur-bearing mammals that are injuring property may be taken at any time and in any manner in accordance with this code or regulations made pursuant to this code. Raw furs, as defined in Section 4005, that are taken under this section, s…

(a) It is unlawful to do either of the following to an immature depredator mammal while it is in its den: (1) Use a snare, hook, or barbed wire to remove the mammal. (2) Use fire to kill the mammal. (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of fire-ignited gas cartridges…

As used in this article, “wild pigs” has the meaning set forth in Section 4650. (Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 132, Sec. 85. (AB 1760) Effective January 1, 2024.)

(a) Except as provided in Section 4181.1, any owner or tenant of land or property that is being damaged or destroyed or is in danger of being damaged or destroyed by elk, bear, bobcat, beaver, wild pig, wild turkeys, or gray squirrels may apply to the department for a permit to k…

(a) Any bear that is encountered while in the act of inflicting injury to, molesting, or killing, livestock may be taken immediately by the owner of the livestock or the owner’s employee if the taking is reported no later than the next working day to the department and the carcas…

For the purposes of this article relating to damage caused by wild pigs, “damage” means loss or harm resulting from injury to person or property. The department shall develop statewide guidelines to aid in determining the damage caused by wild pigs. The guidelines shall consider …

(a) Any owner or tenant of land or property that is being damaged or destroyed or is in immediate danger of being damaged or destroyed by deer may apply to the department for a permit to kill those deer. The department, upon satisfactory evidence of actual or immediately threaten…

In any district or part of a district within San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, bears may be taken at any time with traps within a good and substantial fence, as such fence is described in Section 17121 of the Food and Agricultural Code, surrounding beehives, if no part of th…

Nothing in this code prohibits the owner or tenant of land, or any person authorized in writing by that owner or tenant, from taking cottontail or brush rabbits during any time of the year when damage to crops or forage is being experienced on that land. Any person other than the…

(a) If a landowner or tenant applies for a permit under Section 4181 to take wild pigs or wild turkeys, or under Section 4181.5 to take deer, the department shall notify the applicant about available options for allowing access by licensed hunters, including, but not limited to, …

The department shall tag, brand, or otherwise identify in a persistent and distinctive manner any large depredatory mammal relocated by, or relocated with the approval of, the department for game management purposes. (Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 184. Effective January 1…

The department shall, from time to time, examine all dams in all rivers and streams in this State naturally frequented by fish. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

If, in the opinion of the commission, there is not free passage for fish over or around any dam, the department shall cause plans to be furnished for a suitable fishway, and order in writing the owner of the dam to provide the dam, within a specified time, with a durable and effi…

When all of the provisions of this article have been complied with, if in the opinion of the commission changed conditions make additional structures desirable for the free passage of fish, the department may make such additional structures and may expend such sums of money as it…

Whenever an application for approval of plans and specifications for a new dam in any stream in this State, or for the enlargement of any dam in any such stream, is filed with the Department of Water Resources, pursuant to Part 1 (commencing with Section 6000) of Division 3 of th…

The commission or any party may, in any hearing, cause the deposition of witnesses to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for depositions in civil actions in the superior courts of this state under Title 4 (commencing with Section 2016.010) of Part 4 of the Code of Civil Pro…

The owner of any dam upon which a fishway has been provided shall keep the fishway in repair and open and free from obstructions to the passage of fish at all times. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

It is unlawful to wilfully destroy, injure, or obstruct any fishway. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

The owner of any dam shall allow sufficient water at all times to pass through a fishway, or in the absence of a fishway, allow sufficient water to pass over, around or through the dam, to keep in good condition any fish that may be planted or exist below the dam. During the mini…

Whenever in the opinion of the commission it is impracticable, because of the height of any dam, or other conditions, to construct a fishway over or around the dam, the commission may, in lieu of the fishway, order the owner of the dam completely to equip, within a specified time…

The hatchery, traps, and other equipment necessary to operate a hatchery station shall not be of a size greater than necessary to supply the stream or river with a reasonable number of fish. The owner of the dam shall permit the department to locate the hatchery, dwellings, traps…

If the owner of the dam generates electricity at the place of the dam, he shall furnish sufficient light, without charge, for the use of the hatchery. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

The owner shall permit the use of water, without charge, to operate the hatchery. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

The commission may, in lieu of a fishway, hatchery, dwelling, traps or other equipment necessary to operate a hatchery station, order the owner of the dam to plant, under the supervision of the department, the young of such fish as naturally frequent the waters of the stream or r…

(a) The owner of a dam shall accord to the public for the purpose of fishing, the right of access to the waters impounded by the dam during the open season for the taking of fish in the stream or river, subject to the regulations of the commission. (b) Subdivision (a) does not ap…

The owner of a dam is not liable in damages to any person exercising the right to fish, who suffers any injury through coming in contact with, or tampering with, any of the property of the owner of the dam. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

The department may sell, at cost, to the owner of a dam, young fish ordered to be planted. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

(a) The provisions of Section 5938 shall not be applicable to dams constructed in District 412 after September 9, 1953. (b) No permit or license to appropriate water in District 412 shall be issued by the State Water Resources Control Board after September 9, 1953, unless conditi…

It is unlawful for the owner of a dam in District 412 to release water from the dam, or any facilities for the generation of hydroelectric energy operated in connection therewith, in varying flows in such a manner as to destroy fish life below such release. (Enacted by Stats. 195…

No person shall cause or having caused, permit to exist any log jam or debris accumulation or any other artificial barrier, except a dam for the storage or diversion of water, public bridges and approaches thereto, groins, jetties, seawalls, breakwaters, bulkheads, wharves and pi…

(a) It is unlawful to use any purse seine or round haul net to take yellowtail, barracuda, or white sea bass. (b) It is unlawful to possess any yellowtail, barracuda, or white sea bass, except those taken south of the international boundary between the United States and Mexico, a…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this code, set gill nets and trammel nets with mesh size of not less than 812 inches may be used to take California halibut. (b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), not more than 1,500 fathoms (9,000 feet) of gill net or trammel net shall be…

(a) Notwithstanding Section 8625, and where consistent with the determination made pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c), the director may reduce the minimum mesh size permitted for gill and trammel nets used to take California halibut from 812 inches to not less than 8 inches in …

The commission shall establish fish hatcheries for stocking the waters of this State with fish. The department shall maintain and operate such hatcheries. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

In any lease entered into whereby the state leases from any county, city, irrigation district, or other public agency in this state, real property for the purpose of establishing or maintaining a fish hatchery, the state may agree to indemnify and hold harmless the lessor by reas…

Any claim for damages arising against the state under Section 1121 shall be presented to the Department of General Services in accordance with Section 905.2 of the Government Code, and if not covered by insurance provided pursuant to Section 1121, the claim shall be payable only …

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director of General Services, with the consent of the department, may lease to the Friends of the Mount Whitney Hatchery, at no cost, and subject to any other terms and conditions that the director deems appropriate, for a term …

(a) The Director of General Services, with the consent of the department, may lease to the Mt. Shasta Museum Association at no cost, and subject to any other terms and conditions that the director deems appropriate, for a term not to exceed 25 years, and with the possibility of r…

The department may purchase and import spawn or ova of fish suitable for food, and stock with such spawn or ova the waters of this State. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

Notwithstanding Section 1120 or any other provision of law, all funds allocated for fish purchases for the department’s urban fishing program shall be used to purchase all fish and aquatic organisms by contract, pursuant to the requirements of the Public Contract Code, from priva…

It is unlawful to take any fish in any pond, reservoir, or other water-retaining structure belonging to or controlled by the department and used for propagating, raising, holding, protecting, or conserving fish. (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 285, Sec. 21. Effective January 1, 2008…

The Secretary of the Interior of the United States and his duly authorized agents may conduct fish cultural operations and scientific investigations in the waters of this State in such a manner and at such times as may be jointly considered necessary and proper by the secretary a…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, department personnel may construct or repair bird exclosures at state owned or operated fish hatcheries. These activities shall not be subject to review by the Public Works Board. Nothing in this section exempts the department from comp…

It is unlawful for any person to receive, bring, or cause to be brought into this state, for the purpose of propagation, any fish, reptile, amphibian, or aquatic plant from any place wherein any infected, diseased, or parasitized fish, reptile, amphibia, or aquatic plants are kno…

Section 2270 does not apply to the importation of live aquatic plants or animals for aquaculture purposes by a registered aquaculturist if the importation has been approved by the department pursuant to Section 15600. (Added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1686, Sec. 3. Effective September 3…