"It is unlawful to take any white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), except under permits issued pursuant to Section 1002 for scientific or educational purposes"
California Fish & Game Code Section 8599:
"(a) It is unlawful to take any white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) for commercial purposes, except under permits issued pursuant to Section 1002 for scientific or educational purposes or pursuant to subdivision (b) for scientific or live display purposes.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), white sharks may be taken incidentally by commercial fishing operations using set gill nets, drift gill nets, or roundhaul nets. White shark taken pursuant to this subdivision shall not have the pelvic fin severed from the carcass until after the white shark is brought ashore. White shark taken pursuant to this subdivision, if landed alive, may be sold for scientific or live display purposes.
(c) Any white shark killed or injured by any person in self-defense may not be landed.
California Fish & Game Code Section 8599.3 states:
"The department shall cooperate, to the extent that it determines feasible, with appropriate scientific institutions to facilitate data collection on white sharks taken incidentally by commercial fishing operations."
While California Fish & Game Code Section 8599(a) prohibits the taking of any white shark for commercial purposes it does leave room for scientific study. See Section below regarding issuance of permits. Code Section 8599(b) provides for the incidental catch of white sharks but also carfefully states that the shark shall not have the pelvic fin severed from the carcass until after it is brought ashore. This section also states that if the shark is landed alive, it may be sold for scientific or live display purposes.
California Fish & Game Code Section 5517:
