Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 27.45 - Southern Groundfish Management Area

This Section applies to take and/or possession of federal groundfish species and all greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos. For specific definitions, applicability, and procedures, see sections 1.91 and 27.20. For size limits, bag and possession limits, and other regulations that apply to individual species, see specific sections beginning with Section 27.60.

(a) The Southern Groundfish Management Area means ocean waters between 34° 27' N. lat. (at Point Conception, Santa Barbara County) and the U.S./Mexico border. The Cowcod Conservation Areas are special closure areas within the Southern Groundfish Management Area, where species authorizations, prohibitions, depth constraints and seasons differ from those of the Southern Groundfish Management Area. See Section 27.50.

(b) Seasons and depth constraints effective for all species of rockfish (except as specified in subsection 28.55(b)(1)), lingcod, cabezon and all greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos:

(1) January 1 through March 31: Closed.

(2) April 1 through September 15: Open for all species with no depth constraints.

(3) September 16 through December 31: "Offshore-only" fishery.

(A) Take and/or possession of species and species groups listed in 1. through 3. is authorized seaward of a line approximating the 50-fathom depth contour along the mainland coast and along islands and offshore seamounts. Take and/or possession of these species is prohibited shoreward of this line, except as provided in subsection 27.20(b). The 50-fathom depth contour is defined by straight lines connecting the set of 50-fathom waypoints as adopted in Federal regulations (50 CFR Part 660, Subpart G).

1. Shelf rockfish, as defined in subsection 1.91(a)(3)

2. Slope rockfish, as defined in subsection 1.91(a)(4)

3. Lingcod

(B) Nearshore species closure: Take and/or possession of nearshore rockfish as defined in subsection 1.91(a)(1), cabezon, and greenlings of the genus Hexagrammos is prohibited in all waters of the Southern Groundfish Management Area.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 27.45

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205 and 265, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 200, 205, 265, 1802 and 7071, Fish and Game Code; and 50 CFR Part 660, Subpart G, Sections 660.350, 660.351, 660.352 and 660.360.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 200, 205 and 265, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 200, 205, 265, 1802 and 7071, Fish and Game Code; and 50 CFR Part 660 , Subpart G.

1. New section filed 1-18-2007; operative 1-18-2007 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(c) (Register 2007, No. 3). For prior history, see Register 2005, No. 10.
2. Amendment of subsections (a)-(b)(4) and (c)(1) and amendment of Note filed 3-3-2009; operative 3-3-2009 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2009, No. 10).
3. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(2), repealer of subsections (b)(3)-(4) and amendment of subsections (c)(1)-(4) and Note filed 6-9-2011; operative 6-9-2011 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2011, No. 23).
4. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(2) filed 2-14-2013; operative 3-1-2013 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A) (Register 2013, No. 7).
5. Amendment of section and Note filed 3-10-2015; operative 3/10/2015 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2015, No. 11).
6. Repealer and new subsection (b)(2), amendment of subsections (c)(2)-(3), new subsections (c)(3)(A)-(B) and amendment of and Note filed 2-7-2017; operative 2/7/2017 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4) (Register 2017, No. 6).
7. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(2) and repealer of subsections (c)(3)-(c)(3)(B) filed 1-2-2019; operative 1/2/2019 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(B) (Register 2019, No. 1).
8. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)-(2) filed 12-28-2020; operative 1/1/2021 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(A)-(B) (Register 2021, No. 1).
9. Amendment filed 12-30-2022; operative 1/1/2023 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(4)(B) (Register 2022, No. 52).
10. Amendment of subsections (b), (b)(3) and (b)(3)(A)1. and amendment of NOTE filed 10-30-2023 as an emergency; operative 10/30/2023 (Register 2023, No. 44). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 4-29-2023 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.