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HomeFish and Game CodeDiv. 6Pt. 3Ch. 2Art. 16§ 8561 Shark Swordfish Drift Gill Net Permit

§ 8561 Shark Swordfish Drift Gill Net Permit

Fish and Game Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 8561 Shark Swordfish Drift Gill Net Permit

Key Takeaways

  • •You need a special permit to catch shark and swordfish with big nets for selling them.
  • •If your net is small (less than 8 inches) and thin, you don’t need the permit to catch sharks.
  • •The permit doesn’t last forever—it gets taken away after a few years if the government says so.

Example

A fisherman wants to use a big net to catch swordfish to sell at the market.

He must have a special permit to do this. If he doesn’t have it, he’s breaking the law. But if he uses a small, thin net, he doesn’t need the permit for sharks.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 8561 Shark Swordfish Drift Gill Net Permit

(a) Notwithstanding Section 8394, shark and swordfish shall not be taken for commercial purposes with drift gill nets except under a valid drift gill net shark and swordfish permit issued to that person that has not been suspended or revoked and is issued to at least one person aboard the boat. (b) A drift gill net shark and swordfish permit shall not be required for the taking of sharks with drift gill nets with a mesh size smaller than eight inches in stretched mesh and twine size no. 18 or the equivalent of this twine size or smaller. (c) Notwithstanding Section 8102 or any other law, a permit issued pursuant to this section shall be surrendered or revoked as of January 31 of the fourth year following the department’s notification to the Legislature pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 8583. (Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 844, Sec. 3. (SB 1017) Effective January 1, 2019.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

netboatlegislaturefishingnotification

Related Statutes

  • § 8582 Marlin Protection And Prohibition
  • § 7363 Bay-Delta Fishing Advisory Committee
  • § 8230 Commercial Salmon Fishing Limits
  • § 8280 Dungeness Crab Fishery Limits
  • § 8280.2 Dungeness Crab Vessel Permits

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Fish and Game Code. Section 8561.
View Official Source