California · Fish and Game Code - FGC

FGC §8279.1: (a) A person shall not take, possess onboard, or land Dungeness crab for commercial purposes from a vessel in ocean waters for 30 days after the opening of those waters for the commercial Dungeness cr

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

Commercial Dungeness crab vessels cannot fish in delayed-opening waters for 30 days after opening if they previously fished in non-delayed waters. Violation results in permit revocation, not criminal charges.

Read the full statutory text
(a) A person shall not take, possess onboard, or land Dungeness crab for commercial purposes from a vessel in ocean waters for 30 days after the opening of those waters for the commercial Dungeness crab fishing season, if both of the following events have occurred: (1) The opening of the season has been delayed in those waters. (2) The same vessel was used to take, possess onboard, or land Dungeness crab for commercial purposes, from ocean waters outside of the delayed waters, before the opening of the delayed waters for the season. (b) For purposes of this section, a delay in the opening of ocean waters for the commercial Dungeness crab fishing season has occurred in either of the following circumstances: (1) The opening of those waters for the season has been delayed pursuant to Section 5523 or 8276.2 or the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 8276.1. (2) The opening of those waters for the season has been delayed in Oregon or Washington due to the tri-state quality testing program or by a closure to prevent a risk to human health or a risk of marine life entanglement. (c) A violation of this section does not constitute a misdemeanor. Pursuant to Section 7857, the commission shall revoke the Dungeness crab vessel permit that was issued for use on the vessel that was used in violation of this section. (d) This section shall become inoperative on April 1, 2029, and, as of January 1, 2030, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before January 1, 2030, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.