ARTICLE 7. Commercial Fish Business Licenses [8030. - 8039.]

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC 7.

in effect

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8030. Section 8030.

Any person who engages in any business for profit involving fish shall be licensed pursuant to this article, except as follows: (a) A commercial fisherman who sells fish only to persons licensed under this article to purchase or receive fish from commercial fishermen and who does not engage in any activity described in Section 8034, 8035, or 8036 unless licensed to engage in both activities. (b) A person licensed pursuant to Section 8460 who only takes, transports, or sells live freshwater fish for bait. (c) A person who sells fish or aquaculture products only at retail to the ultimate consumer if that person does not conduct any activities described in Section 8033, 8035, or 8036. (d) Pursuant to Division 12 (commencing with Section 15000), a person who deals only in products of aquaculture. (e) A person who deals only with nonnative live products that are not utilized for human consumption but that are utilized solely for pet industry or hobby purposes and who does not engage in the activities described in Section 8033.1. (f) A person who is employed by the fish receiver to unload fish or fish products from a commercial fishing boat at a dock. (g) A person who purchases, sells, takes, or receives live marine fish for use exclusively as live bait, that are not brought ashore, and who has registered as a live bait dealer with the department. (h) A person who does not purchase or obtain fish, but who acts as an agent for others while negotiating purchases, or sales of fish in return for a fee, commission, or other compensation.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8031. Section 8031.

(a) The following definitions govern the construction of this article: (1) “Process fish” means any activity for profit of preserving or preparing fish for sale or delivery to other than the ultimate consumer, including, but not limited to, cleaning, cutting, gutting, scaling, shucking, peeling, cooking, curing, salting, canning, breading, packaging, or packing fish. “Process fish” also means the activity for profit of manufacturing fish scraps, fish meal, fish oil, or fertilizer made from fish. “Process fish” does not include the cleaning, beheading, gutting, or chilling of fish by a licensed commercial fisherman which is required to preserve the fish while aboard a fishing vessel and which is to prevent deterioration, spoilage, or waste of the fish before they are landed and delivered to a person licensed to purchase or receive fish from a commercial fisherman. (2) “Wholesale” means the purchase of fish from persons licensed to purchase or receive fish from a commercial fisherman, processors, importers, or any other wholesaler for the purpose of resale to other than the ultimate consumer. (3) “Import” means receiving or purchasing fish taken outside of this state which are not landed in this state by a licensed commercial fisherman. (4) “Commercial fisherman” means a person who has a valid, unrevoked commercial fishing license issued pursuant to Section 7850. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1993.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8032. Section 8032.

(a) A multifunction commercial fish business license shall be issued that authorizes any or all activities described in Section 8033, 8034, 8035, or 8036. The annual fee for this license is one thousand three hundred seventy-three dollars ($1,373). (b) Specialty licenses for part of, but not all, activities described in subdivision (a) shall be issued in five classes, as follows: (1) Fish receiver’s license, issued to any person engaged in the business of receiving fish as provided in Section 8033. (2) Marine aquaria receiver’s license, issued to any person engaged in the business of receiving live marine species indigenous to California waters from a person required to be a licensed commercial fisherman for the purpose of wholesaling or retailing those species for pet industry or hobby purposes as provided in Section 8033.1. (3) Fish processor’s license, issued to any person engaged in the business of processing fish as provided in Section 8034. (4) Fish wholesaler’s license, issued to any person who is engaged in the business of wholesaling fish as provided in Section 8035. (5) Fish importer’s license, issued to any person who is engaged in the business of importing fish as provided in Section 8036. (c) The commission shall adjust the amount of the fee specified in subdivision (a), as necessary, to fully recover, but not exceed, all reasonable administrative and implementation costs of the department and the commission relating to those licenses.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8032.5. Section 8032.5.

Unless otherwise specified, all of the following conditions apply to each commercial fish business license, permit, or other entitlement pursuant to this article: (a) An application for a commercial fish business license, permit, or other entitlement shall be made on a form containing information as required by the department. The commercial fish business license shall be signed by the holder before use. (b) Any person who has had a commercial fish business license suspended or revoked shall not engage in that business activity, and shall not receive any other commercial fish business license, permit, or other entitlement that authorizes engaging in that business activity, while the suspension or revocation is in effect. (c) The commission, after notice and opportunity for hearing, may suspend, revoke, or cancel commercial fish business privileges for a period of time to be determined by the commission for any of the following reasons: (1) The person was not lawfully entitled to be issued the license, permit, or other entitlement. (2) Any violation of this code, the regulations adopted pursuant to this code, or the terms of the permit or other entitlement 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) Any 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. (d) A commercial fish business license, permit, or other entitlement is not transferable unless otherwise expressly specified in this code. (e) Any person who holds a commercial fish business license, permit, or other entitlement, who moves or acquires a new or additional plant, facility, or other place of business for profit involving fish, shall notify the department of the address within three months of commencing business activities at the address. (f) Each plant, facility, or other place of business in which an activity occurs that is required to be licensed under this article shall have a copy of each required license on display and available for inspection at any time by the department. (g) Any person licensed pursuant to this article shall provide the department, at the time of application, with the business name, business address, and business telephone number for all locations doing business under the authority of the person’s commercial fish business license, permit, or entitlement. (h) Any person licensed pursuant to this article who is subject to landing fees, as defined in Section 8041, and who has failed to pay all landing fees and penalties pursuant to Section 8053, shall not be allowed to renew their commercial fish business license, permit, or entitlement until payment is made in full to the department. (i) Any person licensed pursuant to this article who is subject to landing fees, as defined in Section 8041, who fails to submit electronic fish tickets pursuant to Section 8046, may be subject to suspension or revocation of their commercial fish business license, permit, or entitlement.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8033. Section 8033.

(a) Except as provided in Section 8033.1 or 8033.5, or subdivision (b) of Section 8047, any person who purchases or receives fish for commercial purposes from a fisherman who is required to be licensed under Section 7850, or any person who removes fish from the point of the first landing that the person has caught for their own processing or sale, shall obtain a fish receiver’s license. (b) The annual fee for a fish receiver’s license is five hundred forty-nine dollars ($549). (c) A cooperative association of fishermen may be licensed as fish receivers.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8033.1. Section 8033.1.

(a) Any person engaged in any of the following activities involving species identified in subdivision (b) of Section 8597 shall obtain a nontransferable marine aquaria receiver’s license: (1) A person who is required to have a marine aquaria collector’s permit pursuant to Section 8597 who sells live marine organisms indigenous to California, that the person has taken, to the ultimate consumer. (2) A person who purchases or receives live marine species indigenous to California for commercial purposes from any of the following: (A) A fisherman who is required to have a marine aquaria collector’s permit pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 8597. (B) A person who imports from neighboring states species that are also indigenous to California waters. (b) A person required to be licensed as a marine aquaria receiver shall obtain all live marine organisms indigenous to California waters only from fishermen, aquaculturists, or importers holding current and appropriate licenses or permits.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8033.2. Section 8033.2.

The annual fee for the marine aquaria receiver’s license is one thousand three hundred seventy-three dollars ($1,373).

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8033.5. Section 8033.5.

(a) Any commercial fisherman who sells fish for other than marine aquaria pet trade or research purposes that he or she has taken to the ultimate consumer of that fish shall obtain a fisherman’s retail license. The annual fee for a fisherman’s retail license is sixty-nine dollars ($69). (b) Any person required to obtain a license under this section who engages in any activity described in Section 8033, 8034, 8035, or 8036 shall also obtain an appropriate license to engage in those activities.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8034. Section 8034.

(a) Any person who processes fish for profit shall obtain a fish processor’s license. The annual fee for a fish processor’s license is five hundred forty-nine dollars ($549). (b) Any person required to obtain a license under this section who takes his or her own fish shall also obtain a fish receiver’s license or a commercial fish business license.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8035. Section 8035.

(a) Except for a person exempt under Section 8030, any person who, for the purpose of resale to other than the ultimate consumer, purchases or obtains fish from another person, who is required to be licensed as a fish receiver, fish processor, fish importer, or fish wholesaler under this article, shall obtain a fish wholesaler’s license. (b) The annual fee for a fish wholesaler’s license is three hundred seventy-one dollars ($371). (c) This section does not apply to either of the following: (1) Persons required to have a marine aquaria receiver’s license pursuant to Section 8033.1. (2) Persons licensed pursuant to Section 8036 who only purchase or obtain fish from outside this state.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8036. Section 8036.

(a) Any person who purchases or receives fish that are taken outside of this state and brought into this state by a person who is not a licensed commercial fisherman, for the purpose of resale to other than the ultimate consumer, shall obtain a fish importer’s license. The annual fee for a fish importer’s license is five hundred forty-nine dollars ($549). (b) Any person who, for the purpose of resale to other than the ultimate consumer, purchases or obtains fish within California in addition to fish that are purchased, obtained, or taken outside of the state, shall obtain both a wholesaler’s license pursuant to Section 8035 and an importer’s license pursuant to this section.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8037. Section 8037.

(a) A person who engages in business involving fish which business activity would require more than one class of license under this article shall obtain either a commercial fish business license issued under subdivision (a) of Section 8032 or each of the specialty licenses which are required for the classes of activities engaged in. Each plant, facility, or other place of business in which an activity occurs that is required to be licensed shall have a copy of the required license on the premises. (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1993.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8038. Section 8038.

A license issued under this article is valid from January 1 to December 31, inclusive, or, if issued after the beginning of that term, for the remainder thereof.

Cal. Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8039. Section 8039.

The fees specified in this article are applicable to the 2004 license year and shall be adjusted annually thereafter pursuant to Section 713.

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