For Commercial Fishing Outside the U.S. 200-Mile EEZ
“Far Offshore Fishery” means a fishery that lies outside the United States 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as defined by paragraph (6) of Section 1802(opens in new tab) in Title 16 of the United States Code.
In accordance with Section 8113(opens in new tab) of the Fish and Game Code:
(a) Prior to departure from any port in the United States for the purpose of taking fish in the far offshore fishery, the operator of any vessel landing fish in California that will be taken in the far offshore fishery shall file a declaration with the department on forms prescribed by the department.
(b) The declaration shall be valid when signed by the vessel operator and completed with information prescribed by the department.
(c) Upon completion of the trip and within 12 hours of arrival at a port in this state, the operator of the vessel shall complete and submit the return portion of the declaration to the department.
Far Offshore Declarations may be submitted either by email (instructions on printed form) or online using the links below:
Forms
For Commercial Swordfish Taken with Drift Gill Net Greater than 75 nm From Shore Between May 1 and August 14
In accordance with Section 8576(opens in new tab) of the Fish and Game Code:
(b) Drift gill nets shall not be used to take shark or swordfish in ocean waters within 75 nautical miles from the mainland coastline between the westerly extension of the California-Oregon boundary line and the westerly extension of the United States-Republic of Mexico boundary line from May 1 to August 14, inclusive.
(d) Notwithstanding the closure from May 1 to August 14, inclusive, provided by subdivision (b), a permittee may land swordfish or thresher shark taken in ocean waters more than 75 nautical miles from the mainland coastline in that period if, for each landing during that closed period, the permittee signs a written declaration under penalty of perjury that the fish landed were taken more than 75 nautical miles from the mainland coastline. The declaration shall be completed and signed before arrival at any port in this state. Within 72 hours of the time of arrival, the permittee shall deliver the declaration to the department.
75 nm Gill Net Swordfish Declarations may be submitted by email only (instructions on printed form).
Form