Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 12, March 22, 2024
(a) Method of Take.
(1) Kellet's whelk may be taken incidentally
in lobster traps, as defined in Fish and Game Code Section
9010,
being fished under the authority of a valid lobster permit and in rock crab
traps, as defined in Fish and Game Code Section
9011(b)(2),
being used to take rock crab under a valid southern rock crab trap permit in
Districts 19 and 118.5.
(2)
Kellet's whelk may be taken by hand by a licensed commercial
fisherman.
(b) Season for
Taking. Kellet's whelk may be taken for commercial purposes from July 1 through
the first Wednesday after the 15th of March.
(1) All Kellet's whelk taken during the
seasonal closure shall be immediately returned to the water. No Kellet's whelk
shall be possessed aboard, or landed from, any commercial fishing vessel during
the closed season.
(c)
Total Allowable Catch. For the period from April 1 through March 31 of the
following year, a total of not more than 100,000 pounds of Kellet's whelk may
be landed in California.
(1) Mechanism for
Fishery Closure. The department will estimate from the current trends in catch
and using available scientific information the time at which the catch limit
will be reached. The department will close the fishery at the time that catch
limit is reached or is projected to be reached prior to the end of the fishing
year.
(2) The department shall give
no less than 10 days notice to any individual who has landed Kellet's whelk
within the previous five years and all individuals who hold a current and valid
lobster operator permit or southern rock crab trap permit via a notification
letter sent to the permittee's address on file with the department. The
department shall give the public and the commission no less than 10 days notice
of the closure via a department news release.
1. New
section filed 2-13-2012; operative 3-14-2012 (Register 2012, No.
7).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
200,
202,
205,
210,
220,
7090
and
8500,
Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections
7090,
7850,
7857,
8140,
8250.5,
8254,
8284,
8500,
8603,
9000,
9001,
9010
and
9011,
Fish and Game Code.
