Title FGC, California Fish & Game Code

All fish handled under authority of this article during the time they are in the hatchery or in the wild are the property of the state and when in the wild may be taken under the authority of a sport or commercial fishing license as otherwise authorized for wild fish. (Added by S…

Any permit granted by the commission pursuant to this article shall contain all of the following conditions: (a) If after a hearing the commission finds that the operation described in the permit and conducted pursuant to this article is not in the best public interest, the commi…

The state shall assume no responsibility for the operation of a hatchery pursuant to this article and shall not be in any manner liable for its operation. (Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 862.)

The commission, subject to the approval of the Attorney General, may enter into reciprocal agreements with corresponding state or county official agencies of adjoining states pertaining to the establishment of a basis whereby valid sport fishing licenses issued by the parties to …

The department may exchange or release to any appropriate federal, state, or local agency or agencies in other states, for purposes of law enforcement, any information collected or maintained by the department under any provision of this code or any regulation adopted pursuant to…

(a) The director, or a designated representative, may enter into reciprocal operational agreements with authorized representatives of any Oregon, Nevada, or Arizona state law enforcement agency, including, but not limited to, the Oregon State Police, the Nevada Department of Wild…

(a) A regularly employed law enforcement officer of an Oregon, Nevada, or Arizona state law enforcement agency, including, but not limited to, the Oregon State Police, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, or the Arizona Game and Fish Department, is a peace officer in this state, if…

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of Article 3 (commencing with Section 5980) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 6020), on or after January 1, 1972, any new diversion of water from any stream having populations of salmon and steelhead that is determined by the department to b…

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the best interest of the people of the state, the commercial fishing industry, and California’s marine resources that fishermen who use gill nets or trammel nets be experienced in the use of those nets. (b) In accordance with S…

(a) Gill nets or trammel nets shall not be used for commercial purposes except under a revocable, nontransferable permit issued by the department. Each permittee shall keep an accurate record of his or her fishing operations in a logbook furnished by the department. The commissio…

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the department shall not issue or renew a gill net or trammel net permit under Section 8681. (b) The department may renew an existing, valid permit issued under Section 8681, under regulations adopted by the commission and upon payment o…

(a) Notwithstanding Section 8681.5, any person who possessed a valid permit issued pursuant to Section 8681 and who was denied renewal of that permit, may appeal to the commission where evidence can be presented that illness or the loss of a vessel resulted in the person not meet…

(a) The commission shall establish regulations for the issuance of gill net and trammel net permits as necessary to establish an orderly gill net and trammel net fishery. In promulgating regulations, the commission shall consider recommendations of the gill net and trammel net ad…

The fee for a permit issued pursuant to Section 8681 is three hundred thirty dollars ($330). (Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 701, Sec. 41. Effective September 15, 1992. Operative April 1, 1993, by Sec. 71 of Ch. 701.)

No incidental catch of swordfish or marlin is authorized by this article. Any swordfish or marlin caught incidentally by a gill or trammel net permittee operating under a permit issued pursuant to Section 8681 shall be delivered to the department. A permit issued pursuant to Sect…

In Districts 1, 2, and 3, gill nets may not be possessed on any boat. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, gill nets may not be used to take salmon, steelhead, or striped bass. (Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 393, Sec. 1.5. Effective July 11, 1980.)

It is unlawful to sell or possess for sale any salmon, steelhead, or striped bass which were taken in California waters by the use of a gill net. (Added by Stats. 1980, Ch. 393, Sec. 2. Effective July 11, 1980.)

It is unlawful for any person to knowingly purchase any salmon, steelhead, or striped bass which were taken in California waters by the use of a gill net. For the purpose of this section, “person” includes a broker who purchases salmon, steelhead, or striped bass which were unlaw…

In Districts 112, 212, and in the Trinity and Klamath River District, it is unlawful to possess any gill or trammel net with meshes over 134 inches in length, except under regulations which may be prescribed by the commission. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

Except as otherwise provided in this code, drift gill nets may be used in Districts 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. (Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 203, Sec. 8. Effective June 20, 1984.)

In Districts 11, 12, and 13, gill nets may be used to take only herring, subject to Article 15 (commencing with Section 8550) of Chapter 2. No gill net may be possessed on any boat in Districts 11, 12, and 13, except by persons possessing a valid permit aboard boats specifically …

Set gill nets and trammel nets with mesh smaller than 418 inches shall not be used or possessed on any boat taking rockfish or lingcod in ocean waters between a line extending 245° magnetic from the most westerly point of the Point Reyes headlands and a line extending 250° magnet…

Notwithstanding Section 8693, it is unlawful to use gill nets to take rockfish or lingcod in the following waters: (a) Between a line running 240° magnetic from Santa Cruz Point and a line running 240° magnetic from Point Sur lighthouse in Monterey County in waters 100 fathoms or…

(a) Not more than 1,250 fathoms (7,500 feet) of gill net or trammel net shall be fished in combination each day from any vessel for lingcod in ocean waters. (b) The Legislature finds and declares that this section, as amended by this act at the 1991–92 Regular Session of the Legi…

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this code, drift gill nets and set gill nets may be used in Districts 17, 18, 19, and 20A, except for the taking of salmon. (b) Rockfish and lingcod may be taken with drift gill nets and set gill nets in Districts 17, 18, 19, and 20A, subject t…

In District 19A, gill nets may not be used, nor may they be possessed on any boat. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

Except as otherwise provided, set gill nets may be used south of a line extending 245° magnetic from the western point of the Point Reyes headlands in Marin County except for the taking of salmon. (Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 1442, Sec. 14.)

Any line used on a gill net which shall tend to cause the webbing of such gill net to bag or hang slack shall cause such net to lose its identity as a gill net and become a trammel net. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

The department is authorized to enter into agreements with counties, nonprofit groups, private persons, individually or in combination, for the management and operation of rearing facilities for salmon and steelhead. All such agreements shall be in accordance with the policies of…

An applicant who wishes to enter into an agreement to operate a rearing facility shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the department prior to executing such agreement, such applicant’s financial ability to properly operate the rearing facility. The department shall develop a…

All fish handled or released under authority of this article are the property of the state and may be taken only after their release into the wild and under the authority of a sport or commercial fishing license. (Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1173.)

The release of fish reared in facilities pursuant to this article shall be made in accordance with the policy of the commission. (Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1173.)

The department shall fund the agreements provided for in Section 1200 only on a matching basis with the persons or entities who enter into such agreements. Funds appropriated for the purposes of this article shall not be used to purchase equipment or for construction. The departm…

The department shall, subject to the limitations of appropriate egg sources and funding, make available fish of appropriate size and species to persons or entities who enter into agreements pursuant to this article. (Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1173.)

Salmon and steelhead raised pursuant to this article shall be released in streams, rivers, or waters north of Point Conception and upon release shall have unimpeded access to the sea. (Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1173.)

(a) The commission may adopt regulations for the possession or training, and the capture, importation, exportation, or intrastate transfer, of any bird in the orders Falconiformes and Strigiformes (birds-of-prey) used in the practice of falconry and may authorize the issuance and…

(a) The falconry license shall be valid for a license year beginning on July 1 and ending on the last day of June of the next succeeding calendar year. If issued after July 1 of any year, a falconry license is valid for the remainder of that license year. (b) For the license year…

(a) On or before three years after the date the Legislature makes an appropriation for purposes of this section, and then again on or before eight years after the date the Legislature makes an appropriation for purposes of this section, the department shall prepare a report and s…

The base year for determining the inflationary index applied to the fee established by Section 396 shall be the 1984–85 fiscal year. (Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 132, Sec. 6. (AB 1760) Effective January 1, 2024.)

“Trammel net” includes entangling nets constructed of more than one wall of webbing. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

In Districts 1, 2, and 3, trammel nets may not be possessed on any boat. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

(a) Except as otherwise provided, in Districts 10, 17, 18, and 19, drift and set trammel nets may be used if the meshes are at least 812 inches in length, except that these nets may not be used in District 18 within 750 feet of any pier or jetty, nor may they be used for the taki…

In District 19A, trammel nets may not be used, nor may they be possessed on any boat. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

All moneys collected or received from gifts or bequests, or from municipal or county appropriations or donations for purposes relating to conservation programs, projects, and activities by the department shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Fish and Game …

(a) The department may enter into one or more agreements to accept funds from any person, nonprofit organization, or other public or private entity for purposes relating to conservation programs, projects, and activities by the department. Any funds received pursuant to this sect…