Marine resources.

(1) Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Existing law provides that it is the department's mission to manage California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and for their use and enjoyment of the public. Existing law establishes various provisions prohibiting the taking of fish under specified circumstances, including the taking of any fish for the sole purpose of removing its eggs except for the purpose of developing a brood stock for aquaculture purposes. This bill would authorize the department to issue a letter of authorization to allow the taking of marine living resources or to authorize the take and possession of marine resources and possession of gear or equipment that would otherwise be prohibited in marine waters to support data collection, environmental cleanup, hazard removal, or public health and safety. The bill would require a letter of authorization to contain specified information, be valid for not more than 30 days, not be extended, be issued only to meet immediate time-sensitive public safety, public health, research, or environmental needs, and not authorize the taking of specified species. The bill would require the department to maintain records of all letters of authorization for no less than 5 years from the date of issuance, and to provide them upon request to the public. (2) Existing law requires the State Lands Commission to adopt regulations relating to owners or operators of vessels carrying, or capable of carrying, ballast water, as provided. Existing law requires the commission to adopt a regulation that requires an owner or operator of a vessel carrying, or capable of carrying, ballast water that operates on the waters of the state to comply with specified federal law, as provided. This bill would require the master, owner, operator, or person in charge of a vessel to report a ballast water treatment system problem during a voyage to the commission as soon as practicable. The bill would require the commission to consult with the United States Coast Guard to attempt to identify an alternative, environmentally sound method of ballast water management in those circumstances, as provided, for its mandatory use.