(a) Notwithstanding Sections 8685, 8687, 8696, and 8724, and except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (d), set or drift gill or trammel nets shall not be used in ocean waters between a line extending 245° magnetic from the most westerly point of the west point of the Point Reyes headlands in Marin County and the westerly extension of the California-Oregon boundary.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding Sections 8664.5, 8687, 8696, and 8724, set or drift gill or trammel nets shall not be used in waters which are 40 fathoms or less in depth at mean lower low water between a line extending 245° magnetic from the most westerly point of the west point of the Point Reyes headlands in Marin County and a line extending 225° magnetic from Pillar Point at Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County.
(2) Notwithstanding Sections 8664.5, 8687, 8696, and 8724, set or drift gill or trammel nets shall not be used in ocean waters which are 60 fathoms or less in depth at mean lower low water between a line extending 225° magnetic from Pillar Point at Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County to a line extending 220° magnetic from the mouth of Waddell Creek in Santa Cruz County.
(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to the use of drift gill nets operated under a permit issued by the department in that part of Arcata Bay in Humboldt County lying northeast of the Samoa Bridge during the period from April 1 to September 30, inclusive. The department may issue not more than six permits pursuant to this subdivision. Each permit shall specify the amount and type of gear which may be used under the permit.
(d) Subdivisions (a) and (b) do not apply to the use of set gill nets used pursuant to Article 15 (commencing with Section 8550) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 6 or regulations adopted under that article or to the use of drift gill nets with a mesh size of 14 inches or more.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b) and Sections 8687, 8696, and 8724, gill or trammel nets shall not be used within three nautical miles of the Farallon Islands in San Francisco County, and within three nautical miles of Noonday Rock buoy located approximately 31/2 miles 276° magnetic from North Farallon Island.
(2) If the director determines that the use of set or drift gill or trammel nets is having an adverse impact on any population of any species of sea bird, marine mammal, or fish, the director shall issue an order prohibiting the use of those nets between three nautical miles and five nautical miles of the Farallon Islands and Noonday Rock buoy or any portion of that area. The order shall take effect not later than 48 hours after its issuance. The director shall hold a properly noticed public hearing in a place convenient to the affected area within one week of the effective date of the order to describe the action taken and shall take testimony as to the effect of the order and determine whether any modification of the order is necessary. Gill and trammel nets used to take fish in District 10 shall be marked at each end with a buoy displaying above its waterline in Arabic numerals at least two inches high, the fisherman’s identification number issued by the department under Section 7852. Nets shall be marked at both ends and at least every 250 fathoms between the ends with flags of the same color and at least 144 square inches in size, acceptable to the department.
(f) The Legislature finds and declares that this section, as amended by Chapter 1633 of the Statutes of 1990, is more restrictive on the use and possession of gill nets and trammel nets than the version of this section in effect on January 1, 1990, and therefore complies with Section 8610.4, and Section 4 of Article X B of the California Constitution.
(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 94, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1993.)