BILL NUMBER: AB 825	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Blakeslee

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Section 9011 of the Fish and Game Code, relating
to commercial fishing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 825, as introduced, Blakeslee. Dungeness crab traps.
   Existing law regulates the Dungeness crab fishery. Existing law
sets forth the qualifications for a Dungeness crab vessel permit, and
provides that no person shall use a vessel to take, possess, or land
Dungeness crab for commercial purposes without a Dungeness crab
vessel permit. Existing law regulates the size and features of traps
that may be used to take Dungeness crab.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to that
trap provision.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 9011 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to
read:
   9011.  (a) (1) Subject to Article 6 (commencing with Section 8275)
of Chapter 2,  dungeness   Dungeness 
crab, as defined in Section 8275, may be taken with dungeness
  Dungeness  crab traps.
   (2) A  dungeness   Dungeness  crab trap
may have any number of openings of any size. However, every 
dungeness   Dungeness  crab trap shall have at
least two rigid circular openings of not less than 41/4 inches,
inside diameter, on the top or side of the trap. If both of the
openings are located on the side of the trap, at least one of the
openings shall be located so that at least one-half of the opening is
in the upper half of the trap.
   (3) Any rock crab taken with a crab trap used pursuant to this
subdivision to take  dungeness   Dungeness 
crab shall be immediately returned to the waters from which it was
taken. No person shall possess rock crab aboard any vessel when the
vessel is being used to take  dungeness  
Dungeness  crab.
   (b) (1) Subject to Article 6 (commencing with Section 8275) of
Chapter 2, rock crab, as defined in Section 8275, may be taken with
rock crab traps.
   (2) A rock crab trap may have any number of openings of any size.
However, a rock crab trap constructed of wire mesh with an inside
mesh measurement of not less than 17/8 inches by 37/8 inches, with
the 37/8 inch measurement parallel to the floor, shall have at least
one rigid circular opening of not less than 31/4 inches, inside
diameter, located on any outside wall of the rearmost chamber of the
crab trap and shall be located so that at least one-half of the
opening is in the upper half of the trap. Rock crab traps constructed
of other material shall have at least two rigid circular openings of
not less than 31/4 inches, inside diameter, on the top or side of
the rearmost chamber of the trap. If both of the openings are located
on the side of the trap, at least one of the openings shall be
located so that at least one-half of the opening is in the upper half
of the trap. No rigid circular opening, as required, shall extend
more than1/2 inch beyond the plane of the wall side or top of the
trap in which it is located, and it shall be clearly accessible to
any crab which may be in the trap.
   (3) No person shall possess any lobster aboard a vessel while the
vessel is being used pursuant to this subdivision to take rock crab.
Any  dungeness   Dungeness  crab taken with
a crab trap used pursuant to this subdivision to take rock crab
shall be immediately returned to the waters from which it was taken.
No person shall possess  dungeness   Dungeness
 crab aboard any vessel when the vessel is being used to take
rock crab.