Section 9010 Of Article 1. Traps From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 6. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 1.
9010
. (a) Subject to Article 5 (commencing with Section 8250) of
Chapter 2, spiny lobster may be taken with lobster traps under a
lobster permit issued pursuant to Section 8254.
(b) Notwithstanding Sections 8660 and 8665, lobster traps may be
used in any area of the state not otherwise closed to the taking of
lobsters up to, but not closer than, 75 feet of any private pier,
wharf, jetty, breakwater, or dock.
(c) A wire lobster trap shall be built of rectangular wire mesh
with inside mesh measurement not less than 1 1/2 inches by 3 1/2
inches, the 3 1/2-inch measurement to be parallel to the floor of the
trap. A wire lobster trap shall be fitted with at least one rigid
rectangular escape gap with an inside vertical measurement not less
than 2 3/8 inches at all points and an inside horizontal measurement
of not less than 11 1/2 inches at all points. The horizontal sides of
the escape gap shall be located parallel to, and the escape gap
within 2 3/8 inches of the floor on any outside wall of, the rearmost
chamber of the lobster trap and shall be clearly accessible to the
lobsters.
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), wire may be used to hold the
escape gap in place that reduces the inside vertical or horizontal
measurement of the escape gap specified in subdivision (c), but only
if all of the following requirements are met:
(1) The overall diameter of the wire, including any coating on the
wire, shall measure less than 0.176 inches in diameter (the diameter
of 7 SWG gauge wire using the Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) standard of
measurement).
(2) A maximum of one wire wrap shall be located on each vertical
side of the escape gap.
(3) A maximum of two wire wraps shall be located on the bottom
horizontal side of the escape gap.
(4) Wire shall not be used on the top horizontal side of the
escape gap.
(5) Each wire shall be tightly wrapped against the inside surface
of the escape gap and shall not pass over the inside surface more
than once. As used in this paragraph, "tightly wrapped" means no
space exists at any point between the wire and the inside surface of
the escape gap.
(e) A lobster trap constructed of lath or other material shall
have an opening to allow a means of escape along the full length of
one side of the rearmost chamber. The escape opening shall be of a
spacing of not less than 2 3/8 inches, and the spacing shall be
located parallel to, and within 2 3/8 inches of, the floor of the
lobster trap.