Scientific Collecting Permits
- Title 14 § 650 / Fish & Game Code § 1002
SCPs allow take for…
Science
Basic research, or applied research, the results of which achieve either, or both of the following:
- Contribute to the knowledge of wildlife biology, and/or related biological, ecological, or environmental fields;
- Provide research and/or management data important or necessary to promote the protection, conservation, or management of natural resources of this State.
Education
Formal academic instruction, informal interpretive programs, cultural or ceremonial activities, or other educational programs which includes, but is not limited to:
- Instruction on the conservation, biology, or ecology of the State's natural resources
- Interpretation of the State's natural history, including its wildlife, and their communities;
- Training in methods or techniques that result in the take and/or possession of wildlife in the field or laboratory;
- Other activities that are part of a college level course in wildlife biology, fisheries biology, or general biology and ecology.
Propagation
Captive breeding, captive rearing, and other activities that help sustain or increase wildlife populations for scientific, conservation, management, or educational purposes such as:
- Captive breeding, captive rearing, and other actions that may not involve captivity to promote successful reproduction as part of a department- approved recovery or conservation concern, or for scientific research purposes;
- Possessing wildlife in captivity for scientific research or monitoring, or to gain knowledge of techniques for reproduction, or for use in educational programs
- Removal of non-native, invasive, or detrimental wildlife to improve or restore ecosystem or habitat conditions, or otherwise enhance the sustainability of native wildlife or other species
- Management responses necessary to prevent catastrophic wildlife population losses from drought, mudslides, wildfires, disease outbreaks, and other natural or man-made disasters, or to capture, temporarily possess, and relocate wildlife to avoid harm or mortality in connection with otherwise lawful activities.
Which species can I take with an SCP?
Animals that are not listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Candidate under the California Endangered Species Act.
* May include federally listed species
SCP Fee Schedule
*All fees processes through:
CDFW License & Revenue Branch (LRB)
1740 N. Market Blvd.,
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 928-5849For Information on Scientific Collecting Permit Fees please contact the CDFW License and Revenue Branch or visit the Scientific Collecting Permits webpage
Applying for an SCP
On May 1, 2018, the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the regulatory changes affecting Scientific Collecting Permits (SCPs)(OAL regulatory file 2018-0320-05S). The regulatory changes and the 
Scientific Collecting Permit Portal (SCPP) became effective October 1, 2018. SCP applications are filled out in the in the SCPP.
*SCP application should be submitted 100 days prior to the requested start date*
Before you apply...
Create an SCPP login ID
To gain access to the SCPP follow the instructions (PDF) to create an SCPP login ID
Once you have an SCPP login ID, create a profile within the SCPP
- Before creating a profile you will need to understand the role of each individual in the SCPP (See SCPP Roles below)
- Each individual that will be named on the permit will need their own login ID and profile.
- Please do not create login IDs and profiles for other users.
- Detailed instructions for creating a profile can be found in the SCPP*
Determine which type of SCP you will need
- Use the SCP Pre-Application Guide (PDF) in the SCPP to determine they type and number of permits you will need.
- Review the General Use Authorizations prior to applying. These are predetermined standardized authorizations. If your work will be outside of the scope of these authorizations you will not be issued a General Use permit and will need to apply for a Specific Use Permit. The General Use Authorizations (PDF) can be also be viewed prior to gaining access to the SCPP.
SCPP Roles
Individual & Entity Permitholder Types
* Every User will need to create their own Login ID and their own Profile using an email address they prefer to use in the long term. The User's Login ID and Profile are tied to the email address used to create them, therefore no User should create a Login ID or Profile for anyone else.
User = any individual who will access the SCPP, and/or request to be named on a pemit (i.e., Executive Signatory, Entity Administrators, Principal Investigators, and Authorized Individuals)
Login ID = grants a User access to the SCPP (requires email address, identity verification, and password creation)
Profile = stores a User's personal data for permit applications (i.e., address, phone number, affiliation, and qualifications information)
Individual Permitholder
| Role |
Attributes |
| Individual = PI |
- User is the Permitholder & Principal Investigator (PI; owns the permit)
- Has edit rights to the application(s)
|
| Authorized Individuals (AIs) |
- Can work independently in the field
- Must be named in the application, and thus the permit
- Does not have edit rights to the application(s)
|
| Field Assistants |
- Can only work under direct supervision of the PI or an AI
- Does not need to be named on the permit
- Does not have edit rights to the application(s)
|
Entity Permitholder
| Role |
Attributes |
| Entity |
- Organization, Institution, Agency, Native American tribe, or other
|
| Executive Signatory* |
User who creates the entity profile (cannot be changed)
- Has authority to act on behalf of the entity
- Has a stable long term postion with the entity
- Designates Entity Administrator(s) and PI within the SCPP
- Has edit right to the entity's application(s)
|
| Entity Administrator** |
User is assigned by Executive Signatory
- Can apply for entity permits for the entity (has edit rights)
- More than one Entity Administrator can be assigned for the entity
|
| PI |
User is assigned by Executive Signatory or Entity Administrator
- Oversees activities in the field
- Does not have edit rights to the entity's application(s)
|
| AIs |
- Can work independently in the field
- Must be named in the application, and thus the permit
- Does not have edit rights to the entity's application(s)
|
| Field Assistants |
- Can only work under direct supervision of the PI or an AI
- Does not need to be named on the permit
- Does not have edit rights to the entity's application(s)
|
* The Executive Signatory may also be the PI.
** Executive Signatory assigns Entity Administrators from within the SCPP when creating the entity's profile. An Entity Administrator can also be assigned as the PI.
SCP Contact Information
Leslie Alber
Fisheries Branch
Leslie.Alber@wildlife.ca.gov
(916) 323-9583
Cooperative Program between NMFS and CDFW 
* Results in an annual federal authorization administered through a state program
4(d) Authorizations allow take for...
Purpose
→
Scientific Research
→
Threatened species by approval through Final 4(d) Rules in a program that provides limits on take prohibitions in section 9(a)(1) of the ESA
What species can I take with a 4(d) Authorization?
| Federally Threatened |
| Chinook salmon |
Coho salmon |
| Steelhead |
Green Sturgeon |
Applying for a 4(d) Authorization
Applications can be completed on 
NOAA's Authorizations and Permits for Protected Species (APPS) website annually. Applications can be drafted prior to submission in APPS, but can only be submitted during the application submission window. Upon approval 4(d) authorizations are valid for one calendar year (January - December).
* The application submission window for the 2019 4(d) Program opens September 1, 2018 and closes September 16, 2018.
4(d) Authorization Contacts
Leslie Alber
CDFW Fisheries Branch
Leslie.Alber@wildlife.ca.gov
(916) 323-9583
Gary Rule
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region
gary.rule@noaa.gov
(503) 230-5424