ARTICLE 9.7. Market Squid [8420. - 8429.7.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 9.7.

in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8420. Section 8420.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the fishery for market squid (Loligo opalescens) is the state’s largest fishery by volume, generating millions of dollars of income to the state annually from domestic and foreign sales. In addition to supporting an important commercial fishery, the market squid resource is important to the recreational fishery and is forage for other fish taken for commercial and recreational purposes, as well as for marine mammals, birds, and other marine life. The growing international market for squid and declining squid production from other parts of the world has resulted in an increased demand for California market squid, which, in turn, has led to newer, larger, and more efficient vessels entering the fishery and increased processing capacity. (b) The Legislature finds that the lack of research on market squid and the lack of annual at-sea surveys to determine the status of the resource, combined with the increased demand for, and fishing effort on, market squid could result in overfishing of the resource, damaging the resource, and financially harming those persons engaged in the taking, landing, processing, and sale of market squid. (c) The Legislature further finds that some individuals, vessels, and processing plants engaged in the market squid fishery have no other viable alternative fisheries available to them and that a decline or a loss of the market squid resource would cause economic devastation to the individuals or corporations engaged in the market squid fishery. (d) The Legislature declares that to prevent excessive fishing effort in the market squid fishery and to develop a plan for the sustainable harvest of market squid, it is necessary to adopt and implement a fishery management plan for the California market squid fishery that sustains both the squid population and the marine life that depends on squid. (e) The Legislature finds that a sustainable California market squid fishery can best be ensured through ongoing oversight and management of the fishery by the commission. With regard to the market squid fishery, the Legislature urges that any limited entry component of a fishery management plan, if necessary, should be adopted for the primary purpose of protecting the resource and not simply for the purpose of diminishing or advancing the economic interests of any particular individual or group.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8424. Section 8424.

(a) No person shall purchase squid from a vessel or vessels unless that person holds a license issued pursuant to Section 8032 or 8033, employs a certified weighmaster, and the facilities operated by the person are located on a permanent, fixed location. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this section shall not apply to the transfer at sea of squid for live bait in an amount less than 200 pounds in a calendar day.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8425. Section 8425.

(a) On or before December 31, 2002, the commission, after consideration of the report and recommendations prepared by the department pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 8426, and, after public hearings, shall adopt a market squid fishery management plan and regulations to protect the squid resource and manage the squid fishery at a level that sustains healthy squid populations, taking into account the level of fishing effort and ecological factors, including, but not limited to, the species’ role in the marine ecosystem and oceanic conditions. The management plan shall be consistent with the requirements of Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7050). Development of the plan shall be coordinated with the federal Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan. (b) On and after January 1, 2002, the commission shall manage the squid fishery in accordance with the requirements of Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7050).

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8428. Section 8428.

Commencing April 1, 2003, and annually thereafter, the fees for a commercial market squid vessel permit and for a commercial squid light boat owner’s permit shall be established by the commission. The total amount of fees collected pursuant to this section, including any revenue derived from any other appropriate source, as determined and allocated by the commission, shall not exceed the department’s and the commission’s costs for managing the market squid fishery pursuant to Section 8425. The fees collected pursuant to this article shall be used only for the management of the market squid fishery pursuant to Section 8425.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8429. Section 8429.

(a) Any statement made to the department, orally or in writing, relating to a permit issued under this article, shall be made under penalty of perjury. (b) The commission shall revoke the commercial fishing license, the commercial boat registration of any vessel, and, if applicable, any licenses issued pursuant to Section 8032, 8033, or 8034 that are held by any person submitting material false statements, as determined by the commission, for the purpose of obtaining a commercial market squid vessel permit or a commercial squid light boat owner’s permit.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8429.5. Section 8429.5.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this article shall prohibit or otherwise limit the authority of the director or the commission under any other law.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8429.7. Section 8429.7.

Sections 8420.5 to 8423.5, inclusive, and Sections 8426 and 8427 shall become inoperative upon the adoption by the commission of a market squid fishery management plan and the adoption of implementing regulations pursuant to Section 8425, and are repealed six months thereafter.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026