California Fish and Game Code § 8597

(a) It is unlawful for any person to take, possess aboard a boat, or land for marine aquaria pet trade purposes any live organisms identified in subdivision (b), unless that person has a valid marine aquaria collector’s permit that has not been suspended or revoked. At least one person aboard the boat shall have a valid marine aquaria collector permit. (b) Except as provided in Section 8598.2, and unless otherwise prohibited in this code, or regulations made pursuant thereto, specimens of the following groups or species may be taken, possessed aboard a boat, or landed under a marine aquaria collector’s permit: (1) Marine plants: (A) Chlorophyta. (B) Phaeophyta. (C) Rhodophyta. (D) Spermatophyta, all species. (2) Invertebrates: (A) Polychaeta—worms; all species. (B) Crustacea—shrimp, crabs; all species, except the following: (i) Dungeness crab—Cancer magister. (ii) Yellow crab—Cancer anthonyi. (iii) Red crab—Cancer productus. (iv) Sheep crab—Loxorhynchus grandis. (v) Spot prawn—Pandalus platyceros. (vi) Ridgeback prawn—Sicyonia ingentis. (vii) Golden prawn—Penaeus californiensis. (viii) Sand crab—Emerita analoga. (ix) Redrock shrimp—Lysmata californica. (x) Bay shrimp—Crangon sp. and Palaemon macrodactylus. (xi) Ghost shrimp—Callianassa sp. (C) Asteroidea—Sea stars; all species. (D) Ophiuroidea—Brittle stars; all species. (E) Gastropoda—snails, limpets, sea slugs; all species, except Kellet’s whelk—Kelletia kelleti. (F) Bivalvia—clams and mussels; all species. (G) Polyplacophora—Chitons; all species. (H) Cephalopoda—Octopuses and squids; all species, except two spot octopuses—Octopus bimaculatus and Octopus maculoides—and market squid—Loligo opalescens. (I) Tunicata—Sea squirts; all species. (3) Vertebrates: (A) Osteichthyes—Finfishes; all species, except the following: (i) Rockfish—Sebastes sp. larger than six inches total length. (ii) Sheephead—Semicossyphus pulcher larger than six inches total length. (iii) Anchovy—Engraulis mordax. (iv) Sardine—Sardinops sagax. (v) Pacific/chub mackerel—Scomber japonicus. (vi) Jack mackerel—Trachurus symmetricus. (vii) Queenfish—Seriphus politus. (viii) White Croaker—Genyonemus lineatus. (ix) Top smelt—Atherinops affinis. (x) Grunion—Leuresthes tenuis. (xi) Shiner surf perch—Cymatogaster aggregata. (xii) Longjawed mudsucker—Gillichthys mirabilis. (B) Chondrichthyes—sharks, rays, and skates; all species less than 18 inches total length, except that leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) shall be 36 inches or larger in total length. (c) The holder of a permit issued pursuant to this section is not required to obtain or possess a kelp harvester’s license issued pursuant to Section 6651, a tidal invertebrate permit issued pursuant to Section 8500, or a general trap permit issued pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 9000) of Chapter 4, when taking, possessing, or landing live organisms for marine aquaria pet trade purposes pursuant to subdivision (b), subject to regulations governing the taking of tidal invertebrates. The commission shall adopt regulations to implement this subdivision, and, for that purpose, may incorporate other regulations by reference.

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