California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game
Subdivision 1 - Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles
Chapter 4 - Ocean Fishing
Article 1 - Ocean and San Francisco Bay District
Invertebrates
Section 29.05 - General

Universal Citation: 14 CA Code of Regs 29.05

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) Except as provided in this article there are no closed seasons, closed hours or minimum size limits for any invertebrate. The bag limit on all invertebrates for which the take is authorized and for which there is not a bag limit otherwise established in this article is 35. In San Francisco and San Pablo bays and saltwater tributaries east of the Golden Gate Bridge invertebrates may not be taken at night except from the shore.

(b) Take of all invertebrates is prohibited within state marine reserves. Take of certain invertebrates may be prohibited within state marine parks and state marine conservation areas as per subsection 632(b). In addition, tidal invertebrates may not be taken in any tidepool or other areas between the high tide mark (defined as Mean Higher High Tide) and 1,000 feet seaward and lateral to the low tide mark (defined as Mean Lower Low Water) except as follows:

(1) Except where prohibited within state marine reserves, state marine parks, state marine conservation areas, or other special closures only the following may be taken: red abalone, limpets, moon snails, turban snails, chiones, clams, cockles, mussels, rock scallops, native oysters, octopuses, squid, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, sand dollars, sea urchins and worms except that no worms may be taken in any mussel bed, unless taken incidental to the harvesting of mussels.

(c) Measuring Devices. Every person while taking invertebrates which have a size limit shall carry a device which is capable of accurately measuring the minimum legal size of the species taken.

(d) In all ocean waters skin and Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) divers may take invertebrates as provided in this article except that in all ocean waters north of Yankee Point (Monterey Co.), SCUBA may be used only to take sea urchins, rock scallops and crabs of the genus Cancer. For the purpose of this section, breathing tubes (snorkels) are not SCUBA.

(e) It shall be unlawful to use or possess any hydraulic pump or other device capable of liquifying sand within 100 yards of any place where marine invertebrates may be present, except in a permanent residence.

1. Amendment of subsection (b)(2) filed 1-20-83; designated effective tenth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 4).
2. Amendment to subsection (b)(3) filed 2-21-84; designated effective 3-1-84 (Register 84, No. 8).
3. Amendment of subsection (b) filed 2-28-85 as an emergency; designated effective 3-1-85. Certificate of Compliance included (Register 85, No. 11).
4. Amendment of subsection (b)(1) filed 1-22-86; designated effective 3-1-86 (Register 86, No. 6).
5. Amendment filed 3-8-2005; operative 4-7-2005 (Register 2005, No. 10).
6. Change without regulatory effect amending NOTE filed 8-8-2019 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2019, No. 32).
7. New subsection (e) and amendment of NOTE filed 7-11-2022; amendments effective 7-11-2022 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2022, No. 28).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205 and 265, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 200, 205, 255 and 265, Fish and Game Code.

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