California · Fish and Game Code - FGC
FGC §8598: (a) Notwithstanding Section 8140 or subdivision (b) of Section 8597, specimens of the following groups or species shall not be taken, possessed aboard a boat, or landed for commercial purposes.
What this law says, in plain English
The law prohibits taking, possessing on a boat, or landing certain fish species for commercial purposes, overriding other code sections.
Read the full statutory text
(a) Notwithstanding Section 8140 or subdivision (b) of Section 8597, specimens of the following groups or species shall not be taken, possessed aboard a boat, or landed for commercial purposes. Taking, possessing, or landing of any of the following species in a commercial operation is prima facie evidence that it was taken, possessed, or landed for commercial purposes: (1) Invertebrates: (A) Phylum Porifera—all sponges. (B) Genus Pelagia sp.—jellyfish. (C) Coelenterata—corals, anemones; all species. (D) Order Gorgonacea—all gorgonians. (E) Order Pennatulacea—all species, except Renilla kollikeri. (F) Feather-duster worm—Eudistylia polymorpha. (G) Fiddler crab—Uca crenulata. (H) Umbrella crab—Cryptolithodes sitchensis. (I) Stalked or goose barnacles—Pollicipes sp. (J) Giant acorn barnacle—Balanus nubilus or B. aguila. (K) Owl limpet—Lottia gigantea. (L) Coffee bean shells—Trivia sp. (M) Three-winged murex—Pteropurpura trialata. (N) Vidler’s simnia—Simnia vidleri. (O) Queen tegula—Tegula regina. (P) Opisthobranchia (including nudibranchs)—all subclass Opisthobranchia species except: (i) Sea hares—Aplysia californica and Aplysia vaccaria. (ii) Hermissenda crassicornis. (iii) Lion’s mouth—Melibe leonina. (iv) Aeolidia papillosa. (v) Spanish shawl—Flabellina iodinea. (2) Vertebrates: (A) All shark and ray eggcases. (B) Brown smoothhound sharks—Mustelus hinlei—that are less than 18 inches in a whole condition or dressed with head and tail removed. (C) Family Agonidae—all poachers. (D) Wolf-eel—Anarrhichthys ocellatus. (E) Juvenile sheephead—Semicossyphus pulcher (under six inches). (F) Garibaldi—Hypsypops rubicundus. (3) Live rocks. (A) Rocks with living organisms attached, commonly called “live rocks,” shall not be taken or possessed except as provided in subparagraph (C). (B) Rocks shall not be broken to take marine aquaria species, and any rock displaced to access any of those species shall be returned to its original position. (C) Rocks cultured under the authority of an aquaculture registration may be possessed. (b) No organisms may be taken, possessed, or landed for marine aquaria pet trade purposes under the terms of a marine aquaria collector’s permit in any of the following areas: (1) On the north side of Santa Catalina Island from a line extending three nautical miles 90 degrees true from Church Rock to a line extending three nautical miles 270 degrees true from the extreme west end of the island. (2) On the south or “back” side of Santa Catalina Island from a line extending three nautical miles 90 degrees true from Church Rock to a line extending three nautical miles 270 degrees true from the extreme west end of the island. (3) Marine life refuges, marine reserves, ecological reserves, and state reserves.
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