Fish & G. Code, § 6903

It is the policy of the state and the department to encourage nonprofit salmon release and return operations subject to this code operated by, or on behalf of, licensed commercial salmon fishermen for the purpose of enhancing California’s salmon populations and increasing the salmon harvest by commercial and recreational fishermen. The department shall, to the extent that funds and personnel are available, cooperate with fishing organizations in the siting and establishment of those operations to ensure the protection of natural spawning stocks of native salmon. The organizations conducting the operations may receive salmon eggs and juvenile salmon for the purposes of the operation, and, where appropriate, shall have priority to receive salmon eggs and juvenile salmon for those purposes after the needs of habitat mitigation efforts, and state hatcheries are met.