ARTICLE 3. Commercial Fishing Licenses [7850. - 7858.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 3.

in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7850. Section 7850.

(a) Excepting persons expressly exempted under this code, no person shall use or operate, or assist in using or operating, any boat, aircraft, net, trap, line, or other appliance to take fish or amphibia for commercial purposes, and no person shall cause to be brought ashore, any fish or amphibia at any point in the state for the purpose of selling them in a fresh state or shall contribute materially to the activities on board the commercial fishing vessel, unless the person holds a commercial fishing license issued by the department. (b) Any person not required under subdivision (a) to hold a commercial fishing license shall register their presence on board the commercial fishing vessel in a log maintained by the owner or operator of the vessel according to the requirements of the department. (c) As used in this section, “person” means a natural person 16 years of age or greater. Any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or association may pay the fees for a license issued to any person. (d) This article does not apply to the taking, transporting, or selling of live freshwater fish for bait by the holder of a live freshwater bait fish license issued pursuant to Section 8460.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7850.5. Section 7850.5.

Section 7850 does not apply to any person who is employed by the fish receiver to unload fish or fish products, or to load or unload food and supplies, on or from a commercial fishing boat at a dock.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7851. Section 7851.

The application for a commercial fishing license shall contain a statement of the applicant’s sex, age, height, weight, the color of eyes and hair, and a statement as to whether or not the applicant is a citizen of the United States.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7852. Section 7852.

(a) The department shall issue a commercial fishing license to any resident who is 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a base fee of ninety-five dollars ($95) for each resident vessel crewmember or resident vessel operator. (b) The department shall issue a commercial fishing license to any nonresident who is 16 years of age or older, upon payment of a base fee of two hundred eighty-five dollars ($285) for a nonresident vessel crewmember or nonresident vessel operator. (c) The base fees specified in this section are applicable to the 2004 license year, and shall be adjusted annually thereafter pursuant to Section 713. (d) The commission shall adjust the amount of the fees specified in subdivision (c), as necessary, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the department and the commission relating to those licenses. (e) Nothing in this section affects any other provision of law relating to the employment of minors.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7852.1. Section 7852.1.

The department may refund the fees paid for a commercial fishing license or stamp, a commercial boat registration, or a commercial fishing permit to the estate of the deceased holder of the license, stamp, registration, or permit, if proof is provided by the estate that the death of the holder occurred prior to the opening of the season for which the license, stamp, registration, or permit was valid. The department may deduct from the refund an amount equal to the cost of issuing the refund, but not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25).

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7852.2. Section 7852.2.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a commercial fishing license, stamp, permit, or other entitlement for which there is a renewal deadline shall not be renewed after that deadline, except as follows: (a) In addition to the base fee for the license, stamp, permit, or other entitlement, the department shall assess a late fee for any renewal the application for which is received after the deadline, according to the following schedule: (1) One to 30 days after the deadline, a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125). (2) Thirty-one to 60 days after the deadline, a fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250). (3) Sixty-one days or more after the deadline, a fee of five hundred dollars ($500). (b) The department shall not waive the applicable late fee. The late fees specified in this section are applicable beginning in the 2008 license year, and shall be adjusted annually thereafter pursuant to Section 713. (c) The department shall deny any application for renewal received after March 31 of the permit year following the year in which the applicant last held a valid permit for that fishery. (d) An applicant who is denied renewal of a late application may submit a written appeal for renewal to the commission within 60 days of the date of the department’s denial. The commission, upon consideration of the appeal, may grant renewal. If the commission grants renewal, it shall assess the applicable late fee pursuant to subdivision (a).

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7852.4. Section 7852.4.

The owner of a vessel upon which a person who is at least 16, but less than 18, years of age, and who is licensed under Section 7852 is working shall obtain, and maintain in full force and effect at all times that a person is working on or about the vessel, a policy of insurance that provides indemnification to the person licensed under Section 7852 in case of accident or injury while working on or about the vessel.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7852.25. Section 7852.25.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the department may deny the issuance or renewal of any licenses, permits, or other authorizations to take or possess fish for commercial purposes, or to conduct business involving fish, that are issued pursuant to this part or Division 12 (commencing with Section 15000), or the renewal thereof, if the applicant for that authorization or renewal has, within the preceding year, issued to the department a check that was dishonored by the bank upon which the check was drawn and the person has failed to reimburse the department for the amount due plus a fee of thirty dollars ($30) and any dishonored check charges incurred by the department.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7852.27. Section 7852.27.

At all times when engaged in any activity described in Section 7850 or Article 7 (commencing with Section 8030) for which a commercial fishing license is required, the licensee shall have in his or her possession, or immediately available to the licensee, a valid driver’s license or identification card issued to him or her by the Department of Motor Vehicles or by the entity issuing driver’s licenses from the licensee’s state of domicile. A current passport may be used in lieu of a valid driver’s license or identification card by a holder of a valid nonresident commercial fishing license issued pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 7852. The licensee’s driver’s license, identification card or, if applicable, passport, shall be exhibited upon demand to any person authorized by the department to enforce this code or regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7853. Section 7853.

The commission may suspend or revoke the commercial fishing license of any licensee who operates a vessel in waters within the territorial jurisdiction of the State and approaches: (a) Within 500 yards of any vessel owned or operated by the United States Government or any department or agency thereof, except when necessary to comply with the laws or rules of navigation governing the safe movement of vessels; or (b) So close to any vessel owned or operated by the United States or any department or agency thereof and engaged in transporting naval or military equipment or personnel as to interfere with such transportation or to enable the observation thereof, except when necessary to comply with the laws or rules of navigation governing the safe movement of vessels.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7854. Section 7854.

No license shall be suspended or revoked pursuant to Section 7853 until the filing of a complaint with the commission by any of the following: (a) The commanding officer of a vessel owned or operated by the United States or any department or agency thereof. (b) Any other officer of any such vessel who is authorized by his commanding officer to file such complaint. (c) Any commanding officer of any military or naval activity affected by the licensee’s operation of a vessel, or any other officer of such activity authorized by such commanding officer to file a complaint.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7855. Section 7855.

The proceedings to revoke or suspend a commercial fishing license shall be conducted at one of the commission’s regularly scheduled meetings.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7856. Section 7856.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, except as provided in subdivision (f) and except when prohibited by federal law, fish may be prepared for human consumption aboard a commercial fishing vessel only under the following conditions: (a) The fish are taken under all existing commercial fishing laws and regulations and, except as provided in subdivision (f), the fish is of a species and size that can be lawfully taken under sportfishing regulations in the area where taken and are taken incidental to normal commercial fishing operations. (b) The fish is separated from other fish and stored with other foodstuff for consumption by the crew and passengers aboard the vessel. (c) The fish shall not be bought, sold, offered for sale, transferred to another person, landed, brought ashore, or used for a purpose other than consumption by the crew and passengers. (d) (1) All fish shall be maintained in a condition that the species can be determined, and the size or weight can be determined if a size or weight limit applies, until the fish is prepared for immediate consumption. (2) If the fish is filleted, a patch of skin shall be retained on each fillet as prescribed by the commission in the sportfishing regulations until the fish is prepared for immediate consumption. (3) Fillets from fish possessed under sportfishing regulations shall be of the minimum length prescribed by commission regulations. (e) The quantity of fish prepared shall not exceed the aggregate sportfishing bag limit for that fish applicable to the total number of crew members and passengers on board the vessel. (f) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, kelp bass, sand bass, spotted bass, yellowfin croaker, spotfin croaker, California corbina, and marlin, shall not be possessed aboard a commercial fishing vessel while that vessel is on a commercial fishing trip. Lobster, salmon, or abalone shall not be possessed aboard a commercial fishing vessel while that vessel is on a commercial fishing trip for preparation for human consumption pursuant to this section unless that lobster, salmon, or abalone is taken and possessed in compliance with all applicable laws pertaining to commercial fishing methods of take, licenses, permits, and size limits. Sturgeon or striped bass shall not be possessed aboard a commercial fishing vessel. A person shall not take or possess a fish on a commercial fishing vessel under a sportfishing license while that vessel is engaged in a commercial fishing activity, including going to or from an area where fish are taken for commercial purposes.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7857. Section 7857.

Unless otherwise specified, the following conditions apply to each commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement issued to take, possess aboard a boat, or land fish for commercial purposes and to each commercial boat registration issued by the department, except licenses issued pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 8030): (a) The person to whom a commercial fishing permit or other entitlement is issued shall have a valid commercial fishing license issued pursuant to Section 7852 that is not revoked or suspended. (b) The commission, after notice and opportunity for hearing, may suspend, revoke, or cancel commercial fishing privileges for a period of time to be determined by the commission for the following reasons: (1) The person was not lawfully entitled to be issued the license, permit, or other entitlement. (2) A violation of this code, the terms of the permit or other entitlement, or the regulations adopted pursuant thereto, by the licensee, permittee, person holding the entitlement, or their agent, servant, employee, or person acting under the licensee’s, permittee’s, or entitled person’s direction or control. (3) A violation of any federal law relating to the fishery for which the license, permit, or other entitlement was issued by the licensee, permittee, person holding the entitlement, or their agent, servant, employee, or person acting under the licensee’s, permittee’s, or entitled person’s direction or control. (c) The person to whom the commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement is issued shall be present when fish are being taken, possessed aboard a boat, or landed for commercial purposes. This subdivision does not apply to commercial fishing vessel permits or licenses. (d) The commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement shall be in the licensee’s, permittee’s, or entitled person’s possession, or immediately available to the licensee, permittee, or entitled person at all times when engaged in any activity for which the commercial fishing license, permit, or entitlement is required. (e) Not more than one individual commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement of a single type shall be issued to an individual person and not more than one commercial vessel fishing license, permit, or other entitlement of a single type shall be issued for each vessel. (f) Any landing of fish used to qualify for, or renew, a commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement shall be reported on electronic fish tickets delivered to the department pursuant to Section 8046. (g) In addition to any other requirements in Article 7.5 (commencing with Section 8040), the name of the person issued the commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement authorizing the taking of the fish shall be included on the electronic fish ticket for that landing. (h) An application for a commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement shall be made on a form containing the information the department may require. The commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement shall be signed by the holder prior to use. (i) Any person who has had a commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement suspended or revoked shall not engage in that fishery, and shall not obtain any other commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement that authorizes engaging in that fishery, while the suspension or revocation is in effect. (j) A commercial fishing license, permit, or other entitlement is not transferable unless otherwise expressly specified in this code. (k) Every commercial fishing license, permit, stamp, commercial boat registration, or other entitlement issued pursuant to this part, except commercial fish business licenses issued pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 8030), is valid from April 1 to March 31 of the next following calendar year or, if issued after the beginning of that term, for the remainder of that term. ( l ) A person who holds a commercial fishing vessel permit or other entitlement authorizing the use of a vessel for commercial fishing shall also hold a valid commercial boat registration for that vessel, issued pursuant to Section 7881, that has not been suspended or revoked. (m) A person who holds a commercial fishing license, permit, registration, or other entitlement, who moves or acquires a new address shall notify the department of the old and new addresses within three months of acquiring the new address. (n) An application to transfer any permit or other entitlement to take fish for commercial purposes shall be deferred if the current holder of the permit or other entitlement is awaiting final resolution of any pending criminal, civil, or administrative action that could affect the status of the permit or other entitlement.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 7858. Section 7858.

In addition to the conditions specified in Section 7857, the following conditions apply to a commercial permit to take, possess aboard a boat, or land fish for commercial purposes in a limited entry fishery, as defined in Section 8100: (a) The permit shall be renewed annually. (b) Except as otherwise provided by law, an appeal for the denial of a renewal application or for a waiver of any landing requirements shall be reviewed and decided by the department. The appeal shall be received by the department or, if mailed, postmarked on or before March 31 following the permit year in which the applicant last held a valid permit for that fishery. The decision of the department may be appealed to the commission. This section does not apply to permits issued pursuant to Section 8550.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026