§ 8607 Federal Groundfish Compliance

• •If you use nets, traps, or lines to catch fish, you must follow federal fishing rules.
• •You can't bring in fish if they break the rules for groundfish (like cod or haddock).
• •This law helps protect fish numbers so there are enough left for the future.

A fisherman uses a big net to catch a lot of cod, but some of the cod are too small.

The fisherman can get in trouble because the rules say you can't keep small cod. He has to throw them back or he breaks the law.