AB 2019 Summary

• Enacts the Swordfish Fishery Sustainability and Marine Wildlife Conservation Act, prohibiting the use of drift gill nets to take shark and swordfish for commercial purposes effective February 1, 2015.

• Replaces drift gill net shark and swordfish permits with new shark and swordfish permits, limiting take methods to hand-held hook and line and handthrust harpoon only.

• Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to issue new shark and swordfish permits to anyone holding a valid drift gill net shark and swordfish permit as of January 31, 2015.

• Directs the State of California to support prohibition of drift gill nets targeting shark and swordfish in all relevant state and federal proceedings and oppose transfer of state permitting authority to the federal government.

• Eliminates time and area restrictions that previously applied to drift gill net operations, as these restrictions become obsolete with the drift gill net ban.