Amend Sections 28.06 and 28.65, Title 14, CCR, Regarding Recreational Gear Restrictions for White Shark
Summary
SCH Number
2026060900
Public Agency
California Fish and Game Commission
(CDFGC)
Document Title
Amend Sections 28.06 and 28.65, Title 14, CCR, Regarding Recreational Gear Restrictions for White Shark
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/19/2026
Document Description
The proposed project would make amendments to Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR), Sections 28.06 and 28.65 regarding finfish fishing gear restrictions and the take of white sharks. The proposed amendments would add a requirement to immediately release hooked white sharks and prohibit removing white sharks from the water. The proposed amendments would also prohibit the use of wire or metallic lines or leaders, or hooks greater than one and one-half inches in maximum inside diameter, when fishing from the shoreline (including beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks, and other man-made structures connected to the shore) or within 1,000 yards of the mean high tide line in ocean waters south of Pigeon Point (San Mateo County, 37° 11' N. lat.).
The amendments are necessary to further protect white sharks from illegal fishing activities and to help prevent incidents between hooked white sharks and ocean users in the same vicinity. White sharks are an important apex predator in the marine ecosystem and are protected under state and federal fishing regulations. There have been several recent incidents involving pier and beach anglers either intentionally targeting white sharks or accidentally hooking them with very heavy fishing gear. These incidents have resulted in the death of at least three white sharks this year. Additionally, in 2014, a swimmer was bitten by a white shark that had been hooked by a pier angler.
This year, a forecasted strong El Niño oceanic event is anticipated to increase the presence of white sharks in California coastal waters, which will increase their availability to anglers and the potential for human interactions with hooked sharks. Young white sharks are already being observed in significantly higher numbers in southern California. Because of this, an emergency situation exists that requires an immediate need to curtail illegal targeted fishing for white sharks, help ensure accidentally hooked sharks are released alive, and help prevent another incident where a hooked shark bites an ocean user or the heavy gear used to catch such sharks entangles a person in the water.
Contact Information
Name
Melissa Miller-Henson
Agency Name
California Fish and Game Commission
Job Title
Executive Director
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, Woodside
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
Countywide
Other Location Info
State waters south of Pigeon Point. San Mateo County, 37° 11' N. lat.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Classes 7; California Code of Regulations, Title 14, sections 15307
Reasons for Exemption
In response to this emergency situation, the California Fish and Game Commission amended Title 14, sections 28.06 and 28.65. The categorial exemption is related to agency actions to protect natural resources. The Commission’s adoption of these regulations is an activity that is the proper subject of CEQA’s Class 7 categorical exemption. See attachment for background and additional details.
County Clerk
San Mateo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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