1. (a) California Groundfish Restriction Areas. The California Groundfish Restriction Areas minimize interaction with particular species of groundfish that cannot be selectively avoided and must be protected by limiting or prohibiting fishing in certain depths or areas for federal groundfish and all greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos.
2. (b) Except for purposes of continuous transit, it is prohibited to take and retain or possess federal groundfish, as defined in section 1.91, within the California Groundfish Restriction Area, when in effect, or in other closed water. Continuous transit is defined as on a heading as nearly as practicable to a direct route through a California Groundfish Restriction Area or closed waters, while maintaining expeditious headway throughout transit without delay and with fishing gear stowed and secured in such a manner that it is rendered unusable for fishing.
3. (c) Seasonal closure periods and in-season closures enacted due to quota attainment for groundfish, other than those specified in 150.16(e)(5)(A) and (B), noticed in the Federal Register in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 600 and 660 by the National Marine Fisheries Service are extended to apply in state waters. See also Section 189, Title 14, California Code of Regulations for additional explanation regarding fishing for federal groundfish in state waters.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 7071, 7652 and 8587.1, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 7071, 7652, 8585.5 and 8587.1, Fish and Game Code.

History

1. New section filed 3-5-2001; operative 3-5-2001 pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 202 and 215 (Register 2001, No. 10).

2. Repealer and new subsection (b), new subsection (c) and subsection relettering filed 12-30-2002; operative 1-1-2003 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2003, No. 1).

3. Amendment of subsection (a) filed 12-31-2002; operative 12-31-2002. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Fish and Game Code section 7652(d) (Register 2003, No. 1).

4. Repealer of subsection (d) filed 11-7-2003; operative 12-7-2003 (Register 2003, No. 45).

5. Repealer and new subsection (c), new subsections (c)(1)-(3) and amendment of Note filed 1-15-2004; operative 1-15-2004 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2004, No. 3).

6. Amendment of section heading and section filed 2-12-2024 as an emergency; operative 2-12-2024 (Register 2024, No. 7). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-12-2024 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

7. Amendment of section heading and section, including further amendment section, refiled 8-5-2024 as an emergency; operative 8-13-2024 (Register 2024, No. 32). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 11-12-2024 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

8. Amendment of section heading and section refiled 11-12-2024 as an emergency; operative 11-13-2024 (Register 2024, No. 46). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-11-2025 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

9. Certificate of Compliance as to 11-12-2024 order, including amendment of subsections (a) and (c), transmitted to OAL 3-17-2025 and filed 3-17-2025; amendments effective 3-17-2025 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2025, No. 12).

10. Amendment filed 8-21-2025 as an emergency; operative 8-21-2025 (Register 2025, No. 34). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 2-17-2026 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

11. Amendment refiled 2-17-2026 as an emergency; operative 2-18-2026 (Register 2026, No. 8). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 5-19-2026 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.

12. Certificate of Compliance as to 2-17-2026 order transmitted to OAL 4-8-2026 and filed 5-20-2026 (Register 2026, No. 21).