Notwithstanding any other provision of this division, except as provided in subdivision (f) and except when prohibited by federal law, fish may be prepared for human consumption aboard a commercial fishing vessel only under the following conditions:

(a) The fish are taken under all existing commercial fishing laws and regulations and, except as provided in subdivision (f), the fish is of a species and size that can be lawfully taken under sportfishing regulations in the area where taken and are taken incidental to normal commercial fishing operations.

(b) The fish is separated from other fish and stored with other foodstuff for consumption by the crew and passengers aboard the vessel.

(c) The fish shall not be bought, sold, offered for sale, transferred to another person, landed, brought ashore, or used for a purpose other than consumption by the crew and passengers.

(d) (1) All fish shall be maintained in a condition that the species can be determined, and the size or weight can be determined if a size or weight limit applies, until the fish is prepared for immediate consumption.

(2) If the fish is filleted, a patch of skin shall be retained on each fillet as prescribed by the commission in the sportfishing regulations until the fish is prepared for immediate consumption.

(3) Fillets from fish possessed under sportfishing regulations shall be of the minimum length prescribed by commission regulations.

(e) A fish that may be possessed under sportfishing regulations shall not be possessed in excess of the sport bag limit for each crew member and passenger on board the vessel.

(f) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, kelp bass, sand bass, spotted bass, yellowfin croaker, spotfin croaker, California corbina, and marlin, shall not be possessed aboard a commercial fishing vessel while that vessel is on a commercial fishing trip. Lobster, salmon, or abalone shall not be possessed aboard a commercial fishing vessel while that vessel is on a commercial fishing trip for preparation for human consumption pursuant to this section unless that lobster, salmon, or abalone is taken and possessed in compliance with all applicable laws pertaining to commercial fishing methods of take, licenses, permits, and size limits. Sturgeon or striped bass shall not be possessed aboard a commercial fishing vessel. A person shall not take or possess a fish on a commercial fishing vessel under a sportfishing license while that vessel is engaged in a commercial fishing activity, including going to or from an area where fish are taken for commercial purposes.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 154, Sec. 87. (AB 1527) Effective January 1, 2016.)