ARTICLE 5. Gill and Trammel Nets [8680. - 8700.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 5.
in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8680. Section 8680.

(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 Section 4 of Article X B of the California Constitution, this section contains the provisions in effect on January 1, 1990.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8681. Section 8681.

(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 commission may suspend, revoke, or cancel a permit, license, and commercial fishing privileges pursuant to Section 7857. A permit may be revoked and canceled for a period not to exceed one year from the date of revocation. (b) In accordance with Section 4 of Article X B of the California Constitution, this section contains the provisions in effect on January 1, 1989.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8681.5. Section 8681.5.

(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 of the fee prescribed under Section 8683. (c) (1) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b) or Section 8681, until January 1, 2027, any person who has an existing, valid permit issued pursuant to Section 8681, and presents to the department satisfactory evidence that the person has taken and landed fish for commercial purposes in at least 15 of the preceding 20 years, may transfer that permit to any person otherwise qualified under the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 8682 upon payment of the fee prescribed under Section 8683. (2) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b) or Section 8681, on and after January 1, 2027, any person who has an existing, valid permit issued pursuant to Section 8681, and presents to the department satisfactory evidence that the person has taken and landed fish for commercial purposes in at least 15 of the preceding 20 years, may transfer that permit one time to a family member pursuant to regulations adopted under Section 8682 and upon payment of the fee prescribed under Section 8683, at which point the permit shall become nontransferable. (d) The Legislature finds and declares that this section is more restrictive on the use and possession of gill nets and trammel nets than the version of this section in effect on January 1, 1989, and therefore complies with Section 8610.4, and Section 4 of Article X B of the California Constitution.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8681.7. Section 8681.7.

(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 meeting the qualifications for renewal or reissuance of that permit. (b) The appeal shall be filed with the commission within 60 days of a denial of the renewal of a permit. (c) If the commission determines that a permit is to be issued to a prior permittee under this section, a permit shall be made available to that person upon payment of required fees. (d) In accordance with Section 4 of Article X B of the California Constitution, this section contains the provisions in effect on January 1, 1989.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8682. Section 8682.

(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 advisory committee created pursuant to subdivision (b). The regulations shall include, but are not limited to, a requirement that persons being granted a permit have had previous experience as a crewmember of a vessel using gill nets or trammel nets or have successfully passed a proficiency test administered by the department, under such regulations as the commission shall prescribe. (b) The director shall establish an advisory committee, consisting of fishermen experienced in the use of gill nets and trammel nets, to advise the department in developing regulations to be proposed to the commission governing the use of gill nets and trammel nets. (c) In accordance with Section 4 of Article X B of the California Constitution, this section contains the provisions in effect on January 1, 1989.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8684. Section 8684.

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 Section 8681 shall be revoked for conviction of a violation of this section.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8685.6. Section 8685.6.

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.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8685.7. Section 8685.7.

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 unlawfully taken by gill net for the purpose of reselling those fish.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8686. Section 8686.

In Districts 1 1 2 , 2 1 2 , and in the Trinity and Klamath River District, it is unlawful to possess any gill or trammel net with meshes over 1 3 4 inches in length, except under regulations which may be prescribed by the commission.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8688. Section 8688.

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 authorized to take herring during the open seasons established by the commission.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8691. Section 8691.

Set gill nets and trammel nets with mesh smaller than 4 1 8 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° magnetic from the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8692. Section 8692.

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 less in depth. (b) Between a line running 240° magnetic from Point Sur lighthouse and a line running 240° magnetic from Pfeiffer Point in Monterey County in waters 75 fathoms or less in depth.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8692.5. Section 8692.5.

(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 Legislature, is more restrictive on the use and possession of gill nets and trammel nets than the provisions in effect on January 1, 1990, and therefore complies with Section 8610.4, and Section 4 of Article XB of the California Constitution.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8693. Section 8693.

(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 to the following restrictions: (1) Rockfish and lingcod shall not be taken between a line running due west magnetic from the lighthouse at Point Piedras Blancas and a line running due west magnetic from Point Sal in water less than 40 fathoms. (2) Rockfish and lingcod shall not be taken between a line running 250° magnetic from the Pigeon Point Lighthouse and a line running 240° magnetic from Point Santa Cruz, inside 40 fathoms, by means of drift gill nets or set gill nets which have mesh smaller than 5 1 2 inches. (3) Drift gill nets and set gill nets shall not be used nor shall they be possessed on any boat taking rockfish and lingcod with mesh smaller than 4 1 8 inches when used in Districts 17 and 18 north of Point Buchon, or with mesh smaller than 4 1 8 inches when used in District 18 south of Point Buchon or in District 19. Drift gill nets and set gill nets used or possessed on any boat taking rockfish and lingcod in District 17, 18, or 19, shall not be constructed of twine larger than number 6 nylon, except that the bottom 15 meshes may be constructed of heavier twine. (4) In District 18 south of Point Sal and in District 19, drift gill nets and set gill nets shall not be used to take rockfish and lingcod with the mesh of the net in waters less than 70 fathoms in depth, except that those nets shall not be used in waters less than 100 fathoms in depth at the Sixty Mile Bank. (5) Loads or lots of fish taken in the areas described in paragraphs 1 to 4, inclusive, may contain 200 pounds or less of rockfish and lingcod in combination, but in no instance more than 100 pounds of rockfish. (6) Gill nets shall not be used to take rockfish in District 20A.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8696. Section 8696.

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.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8700. Section 8700.

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

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