Section 124 - Halibut Trawling(a) Areas. Section 8495 of the Fish and Game Code designates the California Halibut Trawl Grounds as certain state waters along the mainland shore between Point Arguello and Point Mugu and specifies that this area is open to trawling when the season is open. Subdivision 8495(c) specifies four sub-areas within the California Halibut Trawl Grounds that will close to trawling commencing April 1, 2008, unless the commission makes findings as defined in that subdivision. (1) Open Areas. Because the commission has made the requisite findings for three of the aforementioned four sub-areas within the California Halibut Trawl Grounds, the commission authorizes the following waters to remain open to trawling commencing June 16, 2008, and thereafter when the season is open, notwithstanding subdivision 8495(c) of the Fish and Game Code:(A) Rocky Point (near Point Arguello) to Point Conception: From a line extending from Rocky Point true south (180°) and out three miles, the ocean waters extending south and east lying between one and three nautical miles from the mainland shore to a line extending true west (270°) from a point on land approximately one-half mile north of Point Conception at latitude 34° 27.5'.(B) Santa Barbara Point to Pitas Point: The ocean waters lying between one and two nautical miles from the mainland shore lying east of a line extending true south (180°) from Santa Barbara Point and west of a line extending true south (180°) from Pitas Point.(C) Hueneme Canyon to Laguna Point: From the eastern border of the IMO Vessel Traffic safety zone on NOAA/NOS Chart 18725 in Hueneme Canyon, the ocean waters extending south and east lying between one and three nautical miles from the mainland shore to a line extending true south (180°) from Laguna Point.(2) Closed Areas. The waters permanently closed to trawling within the California Halibut Trawl Grounds are those specified in subdivision 8495(b) of the Fish and Game Code, and the following sub-area identified in subdivision 8495(c) of the Fish and Game Code: (A) Point Conception to Gaviota: The ocean waters between one and three nautical miles from the mainland shore lying east of a line extending true south (180°) from a point on land approximately 1/2 mile east of Point Conception at longitude 120° 27.5', and west of a line extending due south from Gaviota.(b) Gears. Special gear requirements apply while trawling for California halibut in the California Halibut Trawl grounds. Each trawl net, including trawl doors and footrope chain, shall meet the following requirements: (1) Each trawl net shall have a headrope not exceeding 90 feet in length. The headrope is defined as a chain, rope, or wire attached to the trawl webbing forming the leading edge of the top panel of the trawl net. Headrope shall be measured from where it intersects the bridle on the left side of the net to where it intersects the bridle on the right side of the net.(2) The thickness of the webbing of any portion of the trawl net shall not exceed 7 millimeters in diameter.(3) Each trawl door shall not exceed 500 pounds in weight.(4) Any chain attached to the footrope shall not exceed one quarter inch in diameter of the link material. The footrope is defined as a rope or wire attached to the trawl webbing forming the leading edge of the bottom panel of the trawl net.(5) The trawl shall have no rollers or bobbins on any part of the net or footrope. Rollers or bobbins are devices made of wood, steel, rubber, plastic, or other hard material that encircle the trawl footrope. These devices are commonly used to either bounce or pivot over seabed obstructions, in order to prevent the trawl footrope and net from snagging on the seabed.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 124
1. New section filed 8-12-2008; operative 8-12-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2008, No. 33).
2. Amendment of subsection (a)(2)(A), new subsections (b)-(b)(5) and amendment of NOTE filed 7-14-2009; operative 8-13-2009 (Register 2009, No. 29). Note: Authority cited: Sections 8841 and 8495, Fish and Game Code. Reference: Sections 8392, 8494, 8495, 8496, 8497, 8830, 8831, 8837, 8840, 8841 and 8843, Fish and Game Code.
1. New section filed 8-12-2008; operative 8-12-2008 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2008, No. 33).
2. Amendment of subsection (a)(2)(A), new subsections (b)-(b)(5) and amendment of Note filed 7-14-2009; operative 8-13-2009 (Register 2009, No. 29).