Title FGC — California Fish & Game Code

In District 11, beach nets may be used. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

In Districts 12 and 13, beach nets may not be possessed on any boat.

In District 18, beach nets may not be used. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

In District 19, beach nets, the meshes of which are at least 11/2 inches in length, may be used to take smelt between September 1st and January 31st. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

“Trawl net” means a cone or funnel-shaped net which is towed or drawn through the water by a fishing vessel and includes any gear appurtenant to the net. Except as otherwise provided in this article, the use of trawl nets shall conform to federal groundfish regulations adopted pu…

It is unlawful for any person to use any trawl net with meshes which are less than 41/2 inches in length except as provided in this article or as provided by federal groundfish regulations adopted pursuant to the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C., Sec. 1…

Trawl nets and Chinese shrimp nets may be used in marine and brackish waters inside of the Golden Gate Bridge to take shrimp, oriental gobies, longjaw mudsuckers, plainfin midshipmen, and staghorn sculpin only in accordance with regulations which the commission may prescribe.

(a) In Districts 4, 19, 19A, 20, 20A, and 21, trawl nets or dragnets may not be possessed. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (a) of this section, trawl nets and dragnets may be possessed, under such regulations as the commission shall prescribe, in Districts 4, 19…

It is unlawful to take or possess more than 500 pounds of crabs on any boat on which any type of trawl or drag net is carried or operated.

It is unlawful for any person to possess salmon on board, or to land salmon from, a vessel on which exists any type of trawl net, except that salmon taken incidentally with other species with a trawl net may be possessed and landed if authorized to be taken incidentally pursuant …

South of a line extending due west, true, from Point Reyes, it is unlawful for any person on a vessel on which any type of trawl or drag net is carried or operated to take or possess Dungeness crab, as defined in Section 8275, or to transfer Dungeness crab to another vessel.

In Districts 6, 7, and 10, trawl nets may be used in waters not less than three nautical miles from the nearest point of land on the mainland shore. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

In Districts 17, 18, and 118.5, trawl nets may be used in waters not less than three nautical miles from the nearest point of land on the mainland shore, including those portions of Monterey Bay, Estero Bay, and San Luis Obispo Bay which lie within those districts. (Enacted by St…

It is unlawful to use or possess any trawl net that includes any bag or cod-end or modification thereof, other than a bag or cod-end of a single layer of webbing, except as authorized by Section 8496 or by the commission.

Chafing gear may be used or possessed but shall not be connected directly to the terminal, or closed, end of the cod-end. Except for chafing gear prescribed under federal groundfish regulations adopted pursuant to the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C., S…

(a) The commission is hereby granted authority over all state-managed bottom trawl fisheries not managed under a federal fishery management plan pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1801 et seq.) or a state fishery management pl…

(a) Trawl nets of a design prescribed by the commission may be used or possessed to take shrimps or prawns under a permit issued by the department under regulations adopted by the commission. Sections 8831, 8833, 8835, and 8836 do not apply to trawl nets used or possessed under a…

It is unlawful to use any trawl net with cod-end mesh less than 71/2 inches in length and with a cod end less than 29 meshes long and a circumference of not less than 47 meshes in waters lying between one and three nautical miles from the mainland shore between a line running due…

Dip nets may be used subject to the following restrictions: (a) In Districts 1, 11/2, 2, 3, and 4, dip nets may not be baited, and may not measure more than six feet in greatest breadth. (b) In District 19, hand-held dip nets 30 feet or less in greatest breadth may be used. In th…

Baited hoop nets not to exceed three feet in diameter may be used at any time in that portion of District 18 lying south of a line running east and west through Point Arguello and in District 19, to take rock crabs, red crabs, and yellow crabs only. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 4…

This chapter is known and may be cited as the Wildlife Conservation Law of 1947. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

The preservation, protection and restoration of wildlife within the State is an inseparable part of providing adequate recreation for our people in the interest of public welfare; and it is the policy of the State to acquire and restore to the highest possible level, and maintain…

(a) There is in the department the Wildlife Conservation Board, hereafter referred to as the board. The board consists of the president of the commission, the director, the Director of Finance, and four public members appointed pursuant to subdivision (b). (b) (1) The Speaker of …

The chairman of the board shall be elected by the members of the board. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

The members of the board shall receive their actual and necessary traveling expenses, which shall be paid from the Wildlife Restoration Fund. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

Three Members of the Senate, appointed by the Committee on Rules thereof, and three Members of the Assembly, appointed by the Speaker thereof, shall meet with the board and participate in its activities to the extent that such participation is not incompatible with their respecti…

For the purposes of this chapter, the Members of the Legislature shall constitute an interim investigating committee on the subject of this chapter and as such shall have the powers and duties imposed upon such a committee by the Joint Rules of the Senate and the Assembly. (Enact…

(a) The board shall investigate, study, and determine what areas within the state are most essential and suitable for wildlife production and preservation, and will provide suitable recreation; and shall ascertain and determine what lands within the state are suitable for game pr…

The board shall also ascertain what lands are suitable for providing cover for the propagation and rearing in a wild state of waterfowl, shore birds, and upland birds, and the possibilities of acquiring easements on such lands to provide such cover. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 4…

As a result of the studies, the board shall determine what areas, lands, or rights in lands or waters should be acquired by the state in order to effectuate a coordinated and balanced program resulting in the maximum restoration of wildlife in the state and in the maximum recreat…

(a) The board shall authorize the acquisition of real property, rights in real property, water, or water rights as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The board may authorize acquisition by the department, but the department shall not acquire any property …

Before the board authorizes the purchase of any land, or any interest therein, the board shall notify all owners of record of adjacent parcels of land of the intent of the board to purchase the land. The notice to the adjacent owners of land and the public notice shall include an…

When the board acquires real property, other than by eminent domain, the purchase price for the real property shall not exceed the fair market value of the property, as defined in Section 1263.320 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The fair market value shall be set forth in an appr…

(a) No governmental entity may condemn any wildlife conservation easement acquired by a state agency, except as provided in subdivision (b). As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) “Public use” as used in Article 6 (commencing with Section 12…

No farm lands may be acquired under the provisions of this chapter by proceedings in eminent domain except by specific authorization of the Legislature, notwithstanding any provision of Section 1348. Nothing in this section shall apply to any proceedings to acquire farm lands whe…

(a) (1) The department shall, when authorized by the board, construct in accordance with law those facilities as are suitable for the purpose for which the real property or rights in real property or water, or water rights, were acquired. Each completed project shall be managed a…

Each recreational area shall be so managed and controlled that the public shall have access to and use of the area for all recreational purposes. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

(a) The money in the Wildlife Restoration Fund, as provided for by former Section 19632 of the Business and Professions Code, as that section read on January 1, 2024, is available for expenditure under this chapter. (b) All federal moneys made available for projects authorized by…

(a) The San Francisco Baylands Restoration Program Account is hereby established within the Wildlife Restoration Fund, as provided for by former Section 19632 of the Business and Professions Code, as that section read on January 1, 2024, for the purpose of acquiring and restoring…

The board may purchase such boats, aircraft, or equipment as it deems necessary for the use of the department for the improvement and protection of marine fisheries. (Enacted by Stats. 1957, Ch. 456.)

The board may authorize the acquisition of such lands or rights in land as may be necessary for the purpose of furnishing public access to lands or waters open to the public for fishing, hunting and shooting. The board may authorize such acquisition by the department.

The net proceeds of the sale or other disposition of real property used as a fish hatchery that has been acquired by or is under the jurisdiction of the board or the department, either in easement or in fee, shall be deposited in the Wildlife Restoration Fund or the Fish and Game…

The board, when it prioritizes the use of available funds for proposed acquisitions, with regard to the priority of a proposal to acquire forestland, may consider and take into account the potential of that proposed acquisition to beneficially reduce or sequester greenhouse gas e…

This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Oak Woodlands Conservation Act.

For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings: (a) “Board” means the Wildlife Conservation Board established pursuant to Section 1320. (b) “Conservation easement” means a conservation easement, as defined in Section 815.1 of the Civil Code. (c) “Fu…

It is the intent of the Legislature that this article accomplish all of the following: (a) Support and encourage voluntary, long-term private stewardship and conservation of California’s oak woodlands by offering landowners financial incentives to protect and promote biologically…

(a) The Oak Woodlands Conservation Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury. The fund shall be administered by the board. Moneys in the fund may be expended, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of this article. (b) Money may be deposited into the fund from…

Moneys in the fund shall be available to local government entities, park and open-space districts, resource conservation districts, private landowners, and nonprofit organizations for the purposes set forth in subdivision (d) of Section 1363.

The board shall develop and adopt guidelines and criteria for awarding grants that achieve the greatest lasting conservation of oak woodlands. The board shall develop these guidelines in consultation with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Department of Food and …

(a) To qualify for a grant pursuant to this article, the county or city in which the grant money would be spent shall prepare, or demonstrate that it has already prepared, an oak woodlands management plan that includes a description of all native oak species located within the co…