Fish: commercial fishing.

Senator Laird's commercial fishing legislation reconfigures confidentiality requirements for California's fish landing records while streamlining electronic reporting mandates. The measure designates catch-related data in landing receipts and fishing activity records as confidential information, though certain identifiers—including fish business names, commercial fishing licenses, and vessel registrations—remain publicly accessible.

The bill establishes specific circumstances under which the Department of Fish and Wildlife may release confidential information, including to federal fishery management agencies, pursuant to court orders, or to research institutions under binding confidentiality agreements. It also removes the requirement for marine aquaria receiver's license holders to file electronic fish tickets, while maintaining reporting obligations for other commercial fishers and fish receivers.

Under the legislation's provisions, electronic fish tickets must document precise details about each transaction, including species names, accurate weights, fishing locations, and gear types used. The timing requirements for completing these tickets vary by transaction type—immediate reporting for most sales and transfers, while commercial fishers selling directly to consumers may complete tickets either at the time of individual sales or at day's end. The bill retains existing prohibitions on at-sea transfers between vessels, with exceptions for live bait fish.