White sharks: prohibition on use of attractants.

Existing law makes it unlawful to take white sharks for recreational or commercial purposes except under a permit issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife for scientific or educational purposes or if taken incidentally by commercial fishing operations using certain types of nets. For purposes of these prohibitions, existing law defines "take" to mean to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or to attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill. Existing law makes a violation of these prohibitions a crime. This bill would also make it unlawful, except as provided, to use any shark bait, shark lure, or shark chum, as defined, to attract any white shark; to place any shark bait, shark lure, or shark chum into the water within one nautical mile of any shoreline, pier, or jetty when a white shark is either visible or known to be present; or to place any shark bait, shark lure, or shark chum into the water for the purpose of viewing any shark when a white shark is visible or known to be present. Because a violation of these prohibitions would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.