Crab traps.

Existing law regulates the Dungeness and rock crab fisheries. Existing law sets forth the qualifications for a Dungeness crab vessel permit, and provides that no person shall use a vessel to take, possess, or land Dungeness crab for commercial purposes without a Dungeness crab vessel permit. Existing law regulates the size and features of traps that may be used to take Dungeness and rock crab, requires a crab taken with a crab trap used for the other crab species to be returned to the waters from which it was taken, and prohibits possession of both species aboard any vessel when the vessel is being used to take either rock crab or Dungeness crab. This bill would permit the incidental take of rock crab with a Dungeness crab trap, and of Dungeness crab with a rock crab trap, during the season when both species may lawfully be taken, subject to specified existing law. The bill would delete the prohibition against possession of both species aboard a vessel. The bill would require the Department of Fish and Game to submit a specified report to the Legislature by January 1, 2013.