Article 9.7. Market Squid of California Fish And Game Code >> Division 6. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 9.7.
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the fishery for
market squid (Loligo opalescens) is the state's largest fishery by
volume, generating millions of dollars of income to the state
annually from domestic and foreign sales. In addition to supporting
an important commercial fishery, the market squid resource is
important to the recreational fishery and is forage for other fish
taken for commercial and recreational purposes, as well as for marine
mammals, birds, and other marine life. The growing international
market for squid and declining squid production from other parts of
the world has resulted in an increased demand for California market
squid, which, in turn, has led to newer, larger, and more efficient
vessels entering the fishery and increased processing capacity.
(b) The Legislature finds that the lack of research on market
squid and the lack of annual at-sea surveys to determine the status
of the resource, combined with the increased demand for, and fishing
effort on, market squid could result in overfishing of the resource,
damaging the resource, and financially harming those persons engaged
in the taking, landing, processing, and sale of market squid.
(c) The Legislature further finds that some individuals, vessels,
and processing plants engaged in the market squid fishery have no
other viable alternative fisheries available to them and that a
decline or a loss of the market squid resource would cause economic
devastation to the individuals or corporations engaged in the market
squid fishery.
(d) The Legislature declares that to prevent excessive fishing
effort in the market squid fishery and to develop a plan for the
sustainable harvest of market squid, it is necessary to adopt and
implement a fishery management plan for the California market squid
fishery that sustains both the squid population and the marine life
that depends on squid.
(e) The Legislature finds that a sustainable California market
squid fishery can best be ensured through ongoing oversight and
management of the fishery by the commission. With regard to the
market squid fishery, the Legislature urges that any limited entry
component of a fishery management plan, if necessary, should be
adopted for the primary purpose of protecting the resource and not
simply for the purpose of diminishing or advancing the economic
interests of any particular individual or group.
(a) No person shall purchase squid from a vessel or vessels
unless that person holds a license issued pursuant to Section 8032 or
8033, employs a certified weighmaster, and the facilities operated
by the person are located on a permanent, fixed location.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this section shall
not apply to the transfer at sea of squid for live bait in an amount
less than 200 pounds in a calendar day.
(a) On or before December 31, 2002, the commission, after
consideration of the report and recommendations prepared by the
department pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 8426, and, after
public hearings, shall adopt a market squid fishery management plan
and regulations to protect the squid resource and manage the squid
fishery at a level that sustains healthy squid populations, taking
into account the level of fishing effort and ecological factors,
including, but not limited to, the species' role in the marine
ecosystem and oceanic conditions. The management plan shall be
consistent with the requirements of Part 1.7 (commencing with Section
7050). Development of the plan shall be coordinated with the federal
Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan.
(b) On and after January 1, 2002, the commission shall manage the
squid fishery in accordance with the requirements of Part 1.7
(commencing with Section 7050).
Commencing April 1, 2003, and annually thereafter, the fees
for a commercial market squid vessel permit and for a commercial
squid light boat owner's permit shall be established by the
commission. The total amount of fees collected pursuant to this
section, including any revenue derived from any other appropriate
source, as determined and allocated by the commission, shall not
exceed the department's and the commission's costs for managing the
market squid fishery pursuant to Section 8425. The fees collected
pursuant to this article shall be used only for the management of the
market squid fishery pursuant to Section 8425.
Any statement made to the department, orally or in writing,
relating to a permit issued under this article, shall be made under
penalty of perjury. The commission shall revoke the commercial
fishing license, the commercial boat registration of any vessel, and,
if applicable, any licenses issued pursuant to Section 8032, 8033,
or 8034 that are held by any person submitting material false
statements, as determined by the commission, for the purpose of
obtaining a commercial market squid vessel permit or a commercial
light boat owner's permit.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this
article shall prohibit or otherwise limit the authority of the
director or the commission under any other law.
Sections 8420.5 to 8423.5, inclusive, and Sections 8426 and
8427 shall become inoperative upon the adoption by the commission of
a market squid fishery management plan and the adoption of
implementing regulations pursuant to Section 8425, and are repealed
six months thereafter.