Article 2. Shellfish Area Contamination of California Fish And Game Code >> Division 6. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2.

For purposes of this chapter, "shellfish" means any bivalve mollusk.

It is unlawful to take shellfish used or intended to be used for human consumption from any area from which it shall be determined, as provided in this article, that the taking of shellfish does or may constitute a menace to the lives or health of human beings.

The State Department of Health Services may:
  (a) Examine any area from which shellfish may be taken.
  (b) Determine whether the area is subject to sewage contamination.
  (c) Determine whether the taking of shellfish from the area does or may constitute a menace to the lives or health of human beings.

Upon the determination by the State Department of Health Services that the area is or may be subject to sewage contamination, and that the taking of shellfish from it does or may constitute a menace to the lives or health of human beings, it shall ascertain as accurately as it can the bounds of the contamination, and shall post notices on or in the area describing its bounds and prohibiting the taking of shellfish therefrom. The taking of shellfish from the area is unlawful after the completion of the publication of the notices as prescribed in this article.

The fact of posting the notices shall be published once a week for four successive weeks in some newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the contaminated area is situated, if there is such a newspaper, and if there is none, then in such a newspaper published in an adjoining county.

The State Department of Health Services shall enforce the provisions of this article, and for that purpose the inspectors and employees of that agency may enter at all times upon public or private property upon which shellfish may be located.

If examinations are conducted pursuant to this article for purposes of certifying the quality of shellfish-growing waters, certification of water quality shall be commenced within 30 days, and completed within three months of the filing of an application by an aquaculturist.