Fisheries Policies

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission that:

• I. Anadromous rainbow trout, commonly called steelhead, shall be managed to protect and maintain the populations and genetic integrity of all identifiable stocks. Naturally spawned anadromous rainbow trout shall provide the foundation of the Department’s management program.
• II. Anadromous rainbow trout populations shall be periodically inventoried by the Department, or its agents, as necessary for management and protection of the anadromous rainbow trout stocks and their habitat, as outlined in this policy.
• III. Anadromous rainbow trout streams shall be inventoried for quantity and quality of habitat, including stream flow conditions. Restoration and acquisition plans shall be developed and implemented to safeguard such critical habitats as estuaries, coastal lagoons, and spawning and rearing areas, and to protect or guarantee future instream flows. Steelhead Fishing Report - Restoration Card Program and other funding may be directed to implement the plans.
• IV. Existing anadromous rainbow trout habitat shall not be diminished further without offsetting mitigation of equal or greater long-term habitat benefits. All available steps shall be taken to prevent loss of habitat, and the Department shall oppose any development or project that will result in irreplaceable losses. Artificial production shall not be considered appropriate mitigation for loss of wild fish or their habitat.
• V. The Department shall strive to improve habitat conditions, alleviate threats, and renegotiate mitigation requirements at appropriate opportunities to eliminate the need for fish rescue operations. Anadromous rainbow trout rescue will not be considered as mitigation for proposed water development. Only under the following circumstances shall anadromous rainbow trout be rescued:
  • A. When they will be returned to the stream system of origin; and
  • B. When fish can be held until habitat conditions in the place where they were collected improve, or when fish can be immediately released in nearby areas of the same stream and the Department has determined that no adverse impacts would occur to existing salmonid populations; and
  • C. When, in the opinion of the Department, habitat conditions are temporarily inadequate or when conducted pursuant to a permitted in-stream construction or restoration activity.
• VI. Sport fishing for anadromous rainbow trout shall be encouraged where the Department has determined that angling will not harm existing wild populations. Angling of juveniles shall only be permitted where such angling does not impair adequate returns of adults for sport fishing and spawning. Special angling regulations for naturally spawned anadromous rainbow trout may be necessary when a fishery includes both naturally spawned and hatchery stocks. These regulations shall be consistent with restoration and recovery goals.
• VII. Domesticated or non-native fish species will not be planted, or fisheries based on them will not be developed or maintained, in drainages of anadromous rainbow trout waters, where, in the opinion of the Department, they may adversely affect native anadromous rainbow trout populations by competing with, preying upon, or hybridizing with them. Exceptions to this policy may be made for stocking drainages that are not part of an anadromous rainbow trout restoration or recovery program.
• VIII. The Department will continue marking all hatchery anadromous rainbow trout and selective harvest of marked fish will be allowed only where the Department has determined that the harvest will not impair the viability of the population.
• IX. The Department will continue to investigate stocking of sterile rainbow trout in waters within anadromous rainbow trout drainages, where the Department has determined that stocking reproductively viable rainbow trout may have an adverse effect on the genetic integrity of the anadromous rainbow trout populations. Stocking of sterile rainbow trout in anadromous rainbow trout drainages will not be conducted if the Department determines there may be an adverse affect to existing wild anadromous rainbow trout populations.
• X. In streams without Department hatcheries, artificial rearing shall be limited to areas where the Department determines it would be beneficial to supplement natural production to re-establish or enhance the depleted wild population. New programs that propose to propagate state- or federally- listed anadromous rainbow trout shall conform to the Department’s guidelines for establishment and operation of recovery hatcheries found in the Recovery Strategy for California Coho Salmon, Appendix H.
• XI. The best available scientific information will be used by the Department to assess the anadromous rainbow trout resource and to develop management strategies and recommendations.

(Amended: 06/18/93; 05/09/08)

• I. Introduction
  The Commission recognizes that:
  • Coastal fishing communities have social, cultural, and economic value, and are interdependent with healthy marine species and ecosystems.
  • Coastal fishing communities are dynamic systems composed of many parts, each influencing the others.
  • Coastal fishing communities are facing unprecedented and dynamic challenges that strain and disrupt their social and economic fabric, including climate change-driven disruptions such as shifting stocks, marine heat waves, harmful algal blooms and whale entanglement risk, as well as inadequate port infrastructure, “greying” of the fleet, emerging industries, competition for shoreside uses and ocean space, and more.
  • The challenges coastal fishing communities face pose a significant threat to their sustained existence. Actions that impact one aspect of a community may be felt community-wide. There is a need to better understand the interdependent relationships and linkages within communities, and to proactively identify actions, programs, and/or responses that will help make California’s coastal fishing communities more resilient to challenges; this policy represents the Commission’s larger commitment to helping address those challenges.
• II. Definition
  For purposes of this policy, a coastal fishing community is defined as a social, cultural, economic, and/or place-based group whose members:
  • are dependent upon, engaged in, or benefit from local, wild-capture, commercial, recreational, or subsistence marine fishery harvest or processing to meet the social or economic needs of the community;
  • include, but are not limited to, businesses and organizations that depend upon or support marine fisheries by providing goods and services, including infrastructure to that community or those communities; and
  • may be a subset or member of larger or associated coastal communities.
• III. Policy Setting
  The Commission recognizes that there are several federal, state, and Commission laws and policies relevant to coastal fishing communities’ interests and needs. This Coastal Fishing Communities policy more clearly establishes that incorporating coastal fishing community-level interests, challenges, and impacts, in addition to fisheries-specific considerations, into management is essential. This policy builds upon the foundations laid out in current laws and policies, including:
  • The federal Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, National Standard 8, which considers the significance of fishery resources and sustained fishery participation to fishing communities, aims to minimize adverse economic impacts on these communities, and may be complementary to State policies and objectives (16 U.S. Code, Chapter 38, Sections 1801 et seq).
  • The California Coastal Act, which recognizes and calls for protecting the economic, commercial, and recreational importance of fishing activities and facilities (Public Resources Code sections 30234, 32034.5 and 30703).
  • The California Marine Life Management Act (MLMA), which establishes specific objectives for recognizing coastal fishing community interests and impacts when pursuing the primary fishery management system goal of sustainability for marine fisheries under the state’s jurisdiction (California Fish and Game Code Section 7056).
  • The MLMA master plan for fisheries, adopted by the Commission in 2018, which guides implementation of the MLMA, including meeting specific socioeconomic objectives for fishery participants and fishing communities.
  • The Commission’s Policy on Restricted Access Commercial Fisheries, which was adopted by the Commission in 1999 as a framework to limit access or entry to a fishery to promote sustainable fisheries, provide for orderly fisheries, promote conservation among fishery participants, and maintain the long-term economic viability of fisheries.
  • The Commission’s Policy on Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, which was adopted by the Commission in 2022 to recognize environmental justice as essential to addressing historic and current inequities, and to create equitable access to environmental benefits.
  To pursue the goals of these laws and policies in an increasingly dynamic ocean landscape, the Commission and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife must more directly account for fisheries as changing social-ecological systems with interdependencies between local communities and fisheries (as well as within and among fisheries).
• IV. Policy Statement
  It is the policy and practice of the California Fish and Game Commission to support, in its decision-making and actions, the long-term needs, social well-being, and economic health of coastal fishing communities in a manner that aligns with the primary conservation and management goals of the Commission’s and Department’s missions and mandates, and other applicable laws. The Commission will pursue this policy holistically and proactively through policy strategies that (A) support meaningful coastal fishing community engagement, (B) ensure coastal fishing community interests are factored into Commission decision-making, and (C) contribute to the adaptive capacity and resilience of coastal fishing communities. The Commission relies upon the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other entities for continued partnership to implement this policy.
• V. Policy Strategies
  • A. Understand the issues facing coastal fishing communities and identify solutions through meaningful engagement.
    It is the intent of the Commission to contribute to empowering coastal fishing communities by pursuing proactive community engagement. Community engagement should be inclusive and reflective of community diversity, knowledge, and priorities to better understand interests, challenges, and potential impacts for various fishing communities. The Commission will:
    • explore opportunities for outreach and promote direct and consistent engagement with coastal fishing communities;
    • support collaboration with coastal fishing communities through collective problem-solving and utilizing local knowledge;
    • encourage partners to help support coastal fishing communities in organizing and participating effectively at local and regional levels; and
    • pursue mechanisms for regular, ongoing engagement and follow-up/follow- through.
  • B. Ensure coastal fishing community interests and needs are factored into Commission decision-making.
    The Commission is committed to supporting options that manage fisheries sustainably and allow communities to adapt and withstand the challenges they face. The Commission will:
    • advance approaches developed through coastal fishing community engagement into decision-making and regulatory processes where appropriate and in alignment with state fishery management conservation goals;
    • support management options, plans, and strategies, including collaborative management, that recognize and sustain social and economic stability of and minimize adverse impacts on coastal fishing communities;
    • consider implications for coastal fishing communities when updating or creating policies and regulations; and
    • continue to develop and innovate systems to anticipate and respond quickly to emerging needs or disruptive changes.
  • C. Increase adaptive capacity and resilience of coastal fishing communities via external efforts.
    The Commission will seek to engage partners and leverage external efforts to bolster sustainability and adaptation, improve governance coordination, support collaboration, and identify pathways to strengthen infrastructure to support coastal fishing communities. The Commission will:
    • help coordinate the efforts among agencies and partners aimed at supporting coastal fishing communities;
    • support local organizational and operational capacities of coastal fishing communities;
    • elevate the visibility of coastal fishing community interests in the face of emerging issues or threats;
    • support efforts to foster a new generation of fishermen;
    • help build and leverage partnerships, including fishery participants, to identify and collect essential fishery information; and
    • support efforts that can inform decision-making and be a resource to stakeholders.

Adopted February 14, 2024

(Repealed 2/2/2006)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission that:

Proper management of the State's wild reptile resources for commercial use is a challenge due to the relative lack of information about the biology of many California reptiles. Even those species generally thought to be common are often inadequately studied and understood with regard to population abundance, distribution, effects of habitat loss, and basic life history parameters. Given the paucity of data available about the status of some species of reptiles in general, and the impacts of commercial use specifically, requests to add species to Section 43, Title 14, CCR, will be carefully evaluated on an individual basis.

A person who wishes to add or remove a species to the list of reptiles that may be captively bred and sold, must provide information adequate to meet the requirements of Title 14, Article 2.5 (Certified Regulatory Program for Adoption of Regulations), Section 777.8 (b) through (d). The following types of information must accompany the request to the Commission:

The information will be reviewed by Department of Fish and Game staff and peer-reviewed by independent professional herpetologists. After peer review, the Department will forward all information to the Commission.

Amended: 09/30/05

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission to designate certain state waters to be managed exclusively for wild trout. Commission-designated wild trout waters should provide a quality angling experience by providing the angler with an opportunity to fish in aesthetically pleasing and environmentally productive waters with trout populations whose numbers or sizes are largely unaffected by the angling process.

The following waters are designated by the Commission as "wild trout waters":

The following "wild trout waters" are further designated by the Commission as "heritage trout waters":

(Amended: 06/22/1995; 03/06/1997; 11/06/1998; 04/02/1999; 12/08/2000; 04/03/2003, 12/12/2008, 11/4/2009, 10/21/2010, 11/17/2011, 11/7/2012, 11/6/2013, 12/03/2014, 12/10/2015, 10/20/2016, 12/06/2017, 12/13/2018, 2/21/2020, 10/14/2020, 4/21/2022, 10/12/2022, 6/14/2023, 10/11/2023, 10/10/2024)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission that:

(Amended 6/18/93)

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has faced, and continues to experience, declines in pelagic fishes and anadromous salmonids. This policy is intended to guide management decisions that could affect fish species and other aquatic resources. The Delta, for the purposes of this policy, means the Sacramento‐San Joaquin Delta as defined in Section 12220 of the California Water Code. “Delta fisheries” includes listed species, species of greatest conservation need, native species, and game fish. It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) that:

(Adopted 2/21/2020)

It is the policy of the California Fish and Game Commission that: The following criteria shall be utilized by the Department to determine if a fishery qualifies as an "Emerging Fishery" in accordance with Section 7090, Fish and Game Code:

(Adopted 10/20/00)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission that:

(Adopted:11/07/12)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission that: The golden trout, designated as the state fish of California, will be perpetuated and maintained as appropriate to support its designation.

Within these waters golden trout will be preserved and maintained in as genetically pure a state as possible. Rainbow trout and other species of trout shall not be planted in designated golden trout waters. Barren lakes in this area may be reserved by the Department for future stocking of golden trout.

(Amended 5/14/93)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission that: The Department may plant fish in suitable waters at certain youth camps. Such camps must be operated primarily for underprivileged or disabled children or youth, with most costs of supporting a child at camp not paid by the children or their families. The Department shall report in writing annually to the Commission on the program. If a conflict exists between this policy and the salmon and steelhead or trout policies, the latter policies prevail.

(Amended 5/4/04)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission that:

(Amended: 06/18/93; 06/18/05; 05/09/08)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission to: Recognize there is a tremendous demand for fishing in reservoirs, lakes and streams. The Department of Fish and Game cannot meet all of the demands for catchable-sized hatchery fish for such waters. Therefore, to the extent possible it should encourage the involvement of the private aquaculture industry. The Department shall not stock fish in (1) private waters that are closed to the public, and (2) fee-fishing lakes operated by registered aquaculturists privately for profit. As long as they are open to the general public, the Department shall stock two types of waters: (1) those in which most, if not all, fish are reared and stocked by the Department, and (2) those in which the reservoir or recreation operator, under a Cooperative Stocking Program, plants an equal or greater weight of catchable-sized fish than does the Department. The Department alone cannot plant enough fish nor improve enough habitat to develop the full recreational potential of many waters. Although the Commission recognizes the prerogative of a local entity to rely on a fishing program of this type, it also recognizes the resulting loss in recreation fishing opportunities in areas where the demand is so great. It, therefore, directs the Department to encourage local entities to shift to the more successful Cooperative Stocking Program.

(Amended 8/26/93, 12/04/97, 01/07/99, 12/08/00, 12/07/01, 12/20/02, 12/05/03, 12/09/05, 12/07/07, 06/30/11)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission that:

(Adopted 4/5/96; amended 2/21/2020)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission to:

Trophy-sized black bass are defined based on their large but not unattainable size in the more productive warmwater reservoirs and lakes of the State. The Commission recognizes trophy-sized black bass based on the following minimum weight standards:

(Added 5/15/92)

It is the policy of the Fish and Game Commission that:

In stocking catchable-sized trout, lakes and larger streams shall have priority over smaller streams. Suitable waters with heavy fishing pressure compared to the size of planting allotments shall have priority. Trophy fish, weighing one pound or more may constitute up to 10% by weight of each load of catchables stocked, if they replace an equivalent poundage of catchables in the allotment for the water stocked.

(Amended 1/4/94)

(Repealed 10/12/2023)

The Department is supportive of youth fishing programs sponsored by city, county or other public entities. Through its urban fishing program, the Department will combine fisheries resource management with educational services to develop healthy urban fisheries, and provide young people with an opportunity to fish close to home. Fish planted for such programs may be obtained from State hatcheries.

(Amended 5/14/93)