CHAPTER 1. General Definitions [1. - 89.5.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 1.
in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 2. Section 2.

Unless the provisions or the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this chapter govern the construction of this code and all regulations adopted under this code.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 3. Section 3.

The provisions of this code, insofar as they are substantially the same as existing statutory provisions relating to the same subject matter, shall be construed as restatements and continuations thereof, and not as new enactments. This code shall not impair any privilege granted or right acquired under any of the laws of this State prior to the date it takes effect.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 4. Section 4.

Division, part, chapter, article, and section headings do not in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of this code.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 5. Section 5.

Whenever reference is made to any portion of this code or of any other law of this State, the reference applies to all amendments and additions heretofore or hereafter made.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 6. Section 6.

Whenever a power is granted to, or duty is imposed upon, a public officer, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy of the officer or by a person authorized, pursuant to law, by the officer, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7. Section 7.

Whenever a statement or report is required to be made, it shall be made in the English language. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the department from providing an unofficial translation of a statement or report in a language other than English.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 11. Section 11.

Whenever in this code the doing of an act between certain dates or from one date to another is allowed or prohibited, the period of time thereby indicated includes both dates specified. The first date specified designates the first day of the period, and the second day specified designates the last day of the period. No period of time specified in this code exceeds one year unless otherwise expressly provided.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 12. Section 12.

Wherever the term “Fish Commission Fund” or “Game Preservation Fund” appears in any law, it means “Fish and Game Preservation Fund.”

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 13. Section 13.

Unless otherwise specified by statute, any notice or other written communication required to be sent to any person by this code or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, is sufficient notice if sent by first-class mail to the last address furnished to the department by that person.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 13.5. Section 13.5.

“Adaptive management,” unless otherwise specified in this code, means management that improves the management of biological resources over time by using new information gathered through monitoring, evaluation, and other credible sources as they become available, and adjusts management strategies and practices to assist in meeting conservation and management goals. Under adaptive management, program actions are viewed as tools for learning to inform future actions.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 15. Section 15.

“Angling” means the taking of, or attempting to take, fish by hook and line with the line held in the hand, or by hook and line with the line attached to a pole or rod which is closely attended or held in the hand in such a manner that the fish voluntarily takes the bait or lure in its mouth.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 17. Section 17.

“Aquaculture” means that form of agriculture devoted to the propagation, cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting of aquatic plants and animals in marine, brackish, and fresh water. “Aquaculture” does not include species of ornamental marine or freshwater plants and animals not utilized for human consumption or bait purposes that are maintained in closed systems for personal, pet industry, or hobby purposes, however, these species continue to be regulated under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2116) of Division 3.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 18. Section 18.

“Bag limit” means the maximum limit, in number or amount, of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians that may lawfully be taken by any one person during a specified period of time.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 19. Section 19.

“Possession limit” means the maximum, in number or amount, of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians that may be lawfully possessed by one person.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 27. Section 27.

“Chumming” means the placing in the water of fish, or other material upon which fish feed, for the purpose of attracting fish to a particular area in order that they may be taken.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 29. Section 29.

“Closed season” means that period of time during which the taking of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, or reptiles is prohibited.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 33. Section 33.

“Credible science” means the best available scientific information that is not overly prescriptive due to the dynamic nature of science, and includes the evaluation principles of relevance, inclusiveness, objectivity, transparency, timeliness, verification, validation, and peer review of information as appropriate. Credible science also recognizes the need for adaptive management, as defined in Section 13.5, as scientific knowledge evolves.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 43. Section 43.

“Ecosystem-based management” means an environmental management approach relying on credible science, as defined in Section 33, that recognizes the full array of interactions within an ecosystem, including humans, rather than considering single issues, species, or ecosystem services in isolation.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 46. Section 46.

“Guide boat” means a boat or vessel under 25 feet in length, which is used by a guide, who is licensed under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2535) of Division 3, in inland waters for any of the following purposes: (1) For the business of packing or guiding. (2) For compensation, to assist another person in taking or attempting to take any fish or amphibian. (3) For compensation, to assist another person in locating any bird or mammal.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 48. Section 48.

“Hook” or “fishhook” means an implement to catch or hold fish or amphibia. “Single hook” means any hook with one point and with or without a barb; “double hook” means any hook with two points and with or without barbs; “treble or triple hook” means any hook with three points and with or without barbs. “Snag” or “gaff” hooks are hooks with or without handles used to take fish in such manner that the fish does not take the hook voluntarily in its mouth.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 54.5. Section 54.5.

“Marine finfish aquaculture” means the propagation, cultivation, or maintenance of finfish species in the waters of the Pacific Ocean that are regulated by this state.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 55. Section 55.

“Mile” means either a statute mile (5,280 feet) or a nautical mile (6,077 feet) depending on the application. Statute miles shall be the unit of measurement for all land masses, rivers, streams, creeks, and inland bodies of water. Nautical miles shall be the unit of measurement for all marine waters.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 56. Section 56.

“Net” means any gear made of any kind of twine, thread, string, rope, wire, wood, or other materials used for the gilling, entangling, trapping, or impounding of fish.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 61. Section 61.

“Ocean ranching” means aquaculture where juvenile anadromous fish are reared and released into state waters to grow and return to an aquaculture facility to be harvested commercially.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 62. Section 62.

“Open season” means that period of time during which the taking of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians is allowed as prescribed in this code and regulations adopted by the commission. If used to define the period of time during which take is allowed “season” means “open season.”

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 67. Section 67.

“Person” means any natural person or any partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, or other type of association.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 70. Section 70.

“Resident” means any person who has resided continuously in the State of California for six months or more immediately prior to the date of application for a license or permit, any person on active military duty with the Armed Forces of the United States or auxiliary branch thereof, or any person enrolled in the Job Corps established pursuant to former Section 2883 of Title 29 of the United States Code.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 73. Section 73.

“Section” means a section of this code unless some other statute is specifically mentioned. “Subdivision” means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 80. Section 80.

Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, a provision of this code that applies to a whole animal also applies to a part of the animal.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 81. Section 81.

“Signature” or “subscription” includes mark when the signer or subscriber cannot write, such signer’s or subscriber’s name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near the signer’s or subscriber’s name; but a signature or subscription by mark can be acknowledged or can serve as a signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two witnesses also sign their own names.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 82. Section 82.

“Slurp gun” means a self-contained, hand-held device used to capture fish by rapidly drawing water containing fish into a closed chamber.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 83. Section 83.

“State” means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. In the latter case, it includes the District of Columbia and the territories.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 89. Section 89.

For the purposes of this code, “recycled water” or “reclaimed water” has the same meaning as recycled water as defined in subdivision (n) of Section 13050 of the Water Code.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 89.1. Section 89.1.

“Waters of the state,” “waters of this state,” and “state waters” have the same meaning as “waters of the state” as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 13050 of the Water Code.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 89.5. Section 89.5.

“Wildlife” means and includes all wild animals, birds, plants, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and related ecological communities, including the habitat upon which the wildlife depends for its continued viability.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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