(a) Drift gill nets shall not be used to take shark or swordfish from February 1 to April 30, inclusive.
(b) Drift gill nets shall not be used to take shark orswordfish 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.
(c) Subdivisions (a) and (b) apply to any drift gill net used pursuant to a permit issued under Section 8561 or 8681, except that drift gill nets with a mesh size smaller than eight inches in stretched mesh and twine size number 18, or the equivalent of this twine size, or smaller, used pursuant to a permit issued under Section 8681, may be used to take species of sharks other than thresher shark, shortfin mako shark, and white shark during the periods specified in subdivisions (a) and (b). However, during the periods of time specified in subdivisions (a) and (b), not more than two thresher sharks and two shortfin mako sharks may be possessed and sold if taken incidentally in drift gill nets while fishing for barracuda or white seabass and if at least 10 barracuda or five white seabass are possessed and landed at the same time as the incidentally taken thresher or shortfin mako shark. No thresher shark or shortfin mako shark taken pursuant to this subdivision shall be transferred to another vessel prior to landing the fish. Any vessel possessing thresher or shortfin mako sharks pursuant to this section shall not have any gill or trammel net aboard that is constructed with a mesh size greater than eight inches in stretched mesh and twine size greater than number 18, or the equivalent of a twine size greater than number 18.
(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.
(e) If any person is convicted of falsely swearing a declaration under subdivision (d), in addition to any other penalty prescribed by law, the following penalties shall be imposed: (1) The fish landed shall be forfeited,or, if sold, the proceeds from the sale shall be forfeited, pursuant to Sections 12159, 12160, 12161, and 12162. (2) All shark or swordfish gill nets possessed by the permittee shall be seized and forfeited pursuant to Section 8630 or 12157.
(f) From August 15 of the year of issue to January 31, inclusive, of the following year, swordfish may be taken under a permit issued pursuant to this article.
California Fish and Game Code Section 8576.5 states:
Thresher shark taken with drift gill nets shall not have the pelvic fin severed from the carcass until after the shark is brought ashore.
California Fish and Game Code Section 8577 states:
Notwithstanding Section 8394, the director may close the drift gill net shark and swordfish fishery, the swordfish harpoon fishery, or any area where either or both fisheries are conducted, if, after a public hearing, the director determines the action is necessary to protect the swordfish or thresher shark and bonito (mako) shark resources. The director shall reopen a fishery or any fishing areas previously closed pursuant to this section if the director determines that the conditions which necessitated the closure no longer exist.
California Fish and Game Code Section 8579 states:
A permittee shall be subject to the provisions of this article whenever the permittee is using a drift gill net, unless the permittee has surrendered his or her permit to the department. A permittee may surrender his or her permit by notifying the department' s Long Beach office of his or her intentions by telegram or certified letter and by sending or delivering his or her permit to a department office. A permittee may reclaim his or her permit at any time during regular working hours, if the permit has not been suspended or revoked.
California Fish and Game Code Section 8580 states:
It is unlawful for any permittee to sell swordfish taken by him or her to other than the persons described in Section 8032 or 8033.
California Fish and Game Code Section 8581 states:
Any license issued pursuant to Sections 8032 to 8036, inclusive, may be revoked or suspended by the commission, when requested by the department, upon a conviction for a violation of Section 8043 for failure to report, or for inaccurately reporting, shark orswordfish landings by fishermen operating under permits issued pursuant to Section 8394 or 8561.
California Fish and Game Code Section 8576 states:
