On February 18, 2003, the Fish and Game Commission adopted regulations prohibiting the use of trawl nets to take spot prawn. The regulations went into effect on April 1, 2003, and are provided below.
Ridgeback trawl fishermen may land up to 50 pounds without restriction or 15 percent, by weight, of spot prawn during the open season for ridgeback prawn.
Pink shrimp fishermen need to take note that the new regulations also prohibit the possession or landing of spot prawn as incidental catch while trawling for pink shrimp.
Regulatory Language
These are the regulations as they now read following the Commission’s amendments:
Subsection (h) of Section 120 of Title 14, CCR, now reads:
Section 120. Prawn or Shrimp Trawling.
(h) Incidentally Caught Fish. Not more than 1,500 pounds, multiplied by the number of days of the fishing trip, of fish other than Pacific whiting, shortbelly rockfish, or arrowtooth flounder caught incidentally with shrimp or prawns may be possessed on any boat operating under a permit as provided in these regulations, except salmon may be taken and possessed subject to sections 8210.2 to 8226, and 8230 to 8237, inclusive, of the Fish and Game Code. Spot prawns shall not be possessed or landed as incidental catch in the pink shrimp fishery.
NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 8591 and 8842, Fish and Game Code.
Reference: Sections 1700 and 8590-8595, Fish and Game Code.
Section 120.3 of Title 14, CCR, now reads:
Section 120.3. Golden Prawn (Penaeus Californiensis), Spot Prawn (Pandalus Platyceros) and Ridgeback Prawn (Eusicyonia Ingentis) Trawling.
Prawns may only be taken by trawl nets for commercial purposes pursuant to sections 120 and 120.3 of these regulations, or by traps, pursuant to sections 180, 180.2, 180.5 and this section. Spot prawns may not be taken or possessed using trawl nets.
Permits to use or possess trawl nets for the taking of golden prawns and ridgeback prawns in ocean waters may be granted only under the following conditions:
(a) Qualifications of Permittee. The applicant must be a licensed commercial fisherman and operator of a currently registered commercial fishing vessel.
(b) Cost of Permit. See subsection 699(b) of these regulations for the fee for this permit. (NOTE: this fee shall be charged effective April 1, 1992.)
(c) Permit Area. Trawling for golden and ridgeback prawns shall be permitted in waters not less than 25 fathoms in depth and lying not nearer than three nautical miles distance from the nearest point of land on the mainland shore, and from all offshore islands. No trawling shall be conducted in the cowcod closure areas defined in Section 150.06, Title 14, CCR. Also, trawling shall not be conducted within District 19A which shall include a line from Malibu Point (34° 01.8'N., 118° 40.8' W) to Rocky Point (Palos Verdes Point) (33° 46.5' N., 118° 25.7' W.).
(1) Trawling Zones.
(A) Trawling Zone 1: Includes waters between the California-Oregon border and a line extending due west from False Cape (Lat. 40° 31' N).
(B) Trawling Zone 2: Includes those waters between a line extending due west from False Cape and a line extending due west from Lopez Point (Lat. 36° N).
(C) Trawling Zone 3: Includes those waters between a line extending due west from Lopez Point and a line extending due west from Point Arguello (Lat. 34° 35' N).
(D) Trawling Zone 4: Includes those waters between a line extending due west from Point Arguello and a line extending due west from Point Dume (Lat. 34° 0' N).
(E) Trawling Zone 5: Includes those waters lying between a line extending due west from Point Dume and the California-Mexico boundary, excluding Fish and Game Districts 19A, 19B, 20, 20A and 21.
(d) Restricted Catch Period:
Trawling for ridgeback prawns in all zones shall be subject to the incidental catch restrictions pursuant to subsection (g) from June 1 through September 30.
(e) Gear Specifications.
(1) Trawl nets with single-walled bag or cod-end: The mesh of any webbing shall not be less than 1 ½ inches in length.
(2) Trawl nets with double-walled bag or cod-end: The mesh of any webbing or liner shall not be less than 3 inches in length. The lines and cod-end shall be tied together along the rib line.(3) Mesh measurement. Minimum trawl mesh size requirements are met if a standard stainless steel wedge of appropriate gauge can be passed with thumb pressure only through 16 of 20 sets of two meshes each of wet mesh in the cod-end.
(f) Limitation of Gear.
(1) No net, the meshes of which are less than prescribed in these regulations, may be possessed on any vessel which is operating under the provisions of a golden prawn or ridgeback prawn permit.
(2) All fishing gear used under the provisions of these regulations is subject to inspection and approval by the department at any time.
(3) On request, any authorized representative of the department shall be permitted to travel on the permittee’s boat to observe golden prawn or ridgeback prawn trawling operations.
(g) Incidental Catch Restrictions.
(1) Not more than 1,000 pounds of any fish caught incidentally with pink shrimp, golden or ridgeback prawns may be possessed on any boat operating under a permit as provided in these regulations. Fisherman should refer to subsection 189(a), Title 14, CCR, for bycatch limits of federally-managed groundfish species. Any amount of sea cucumbers taken incidentally may be possessed if the owner or operator of the vessel possesses a permit to take sea cucumbers pursuant to Section 8405 of the Fish and Game Code.
(2) During the restricted catch period for ridgeback prawns, loads of fish shall not contain more than 50 pounds without restriction or 15 percent, by weight, of ridgeback prawns. For the purpose of this regulation, species of fish other than spot prawns shall not be included in the determination of the percentage of ridgeback prawns taken or possessed in any load of fish containing mixed species.
(3) Trawl loads of fish shall not contain more than 50 pounds without restriction or 15 percent, by weight, of spot prawns. For the purpose of this regulation, species of fish other than ridgeback prawns shall not be included in the determination of the percentage of spot prawns taken or possessed in any load of fish containing mixed species.
(h) Records. Pursuant to Section 190 of these regulations, each permittee shall complete and submit an accurate record of his fishing activities on a form (Shrimp/Prawn Trawl Log, DFG 120 (10/89), see Appendix A) provided by the department.
(i) Conditions of Permit. The provisions of the California Fish and Game Code relating to commercial fishing, except as modified by the provisions of these regulations, shall be a condition of all permits to be fully performed by the holders thereof, their agents, servants, employees, or those acting under their direction and control.
(j) Revocation of Permits. All permits may be revoked and cancelled by the commission upon the breach or violation of any fish and game law or regulation or violation of the terms or conditions of this permit by the holders thereof, their agents, servants, employees or those acting under their direction and control.
NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 710.7, 711, 8591 and 8842, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 710.7, 711, 8140 and 8842, Fish and Game Code.
