When do you need an SCP?
Scientific Collecting Permits (SCPs) are permits issued for the take and/or possession of wildlife for scientific, educational, and propagation purposes within California. Fish and Game Code section 86 defines “take” as to “hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill, or attempt to hunt, pursue, catch, capture, or kill” and “wildlife” includes mammals, birds and the nests and eggs thereof, reptiles, amphibians, fish, algae, certain invertebrates, and certain plants.
CDFW issues two types of SCPs: General Use and Specific Use. The permit type you need will depend on the proposed project.
General Use SCPs
General Use SCPs are intended to offer an efficient permitting mechanism to authorize a project that meets pre-defined "Marine Authorizations". There are three categories of Marine Authorizations (see below), which each include standard provisions for the type of wildlife and activities, prohibited wildlife, methods and equipment, daily and annual limits, size and season restrictions, procedures and dispositions, and locations. General Use SCPs can only be issued for a project that falls within the Marine Authorization provisions; otherwise, a Specific Use SCP is needed.
Specific Use SCPs
If a planned activity cannot be accommodated within the pre-defined scope of a General Use SCP, a Specific Use SCP is needed. Specific Use SCPs may also authorize activities that involve taxonomic groups from more than one SCP review program (e.g., take of both marine and terrestrial wildlife). Additionally, if working within a state-designated Marine Protected Area (MPA), apply for a Specific Use permit.
Scope of Marine SCPs
There are three branches to the SCP Program: Marine, Inland Fisheries and Terrestrial. Which branch reviews a permit application depends on what is being collected and where it is collected from.
In general, you need a Marine SCP when working in state waters (mean high tide line out to three nautical miles including islands and offshore rocks). You also need a Marine SCP when collecting farther offshore and transporting wildlife through state waters, possessing marine wildlife taken outside California, or when working in state-designated MPAs. When working in estuaries such as San Francisco Bay, your permit will be reviewed by both the Marine and Inland Fisheries programs.
Working in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
In 1999, California passed the Marine Life Protection Act which created a statewide network of MPAs. These areas have additional restrictions compared to areas outside the MPA Network to protect the diversity and abundance of marine life, the habitats they depend on, and the integrity of marine ecosystem.
CDFW can issue a Specific Use SCP for take of wildlife within MPAs for education, research or propagation purposes. A Specific Use SCP is needed to conduct sediment or water sampling, eDNA sampling, or placement of scientific equipment (including sensors) witin an MPA. This is true even if no wildlife is being taken.
If requesting to work within an MPA, list the specific MPA(s) in Section 4f(7). Geographic Locations along with an explanation for why the work needs to occur within that MPA.
Permit Processing Timeframes
In general, please submit a completed application for new SCP at least four months prior to the anticipated project start date. When submitting a renewal application, we recommend submitting the application at least four months prior to the expiration date on the current permit to prevent a lapse in coverage. Additionally, provide a current copy of the Mandatory Wildlife Report when submitting the renewal, as CDFW will need it to begin processing the renewal application.
CDFW recommends submitting the application at least six months prior to the anticipated project start date if requesting to take sensitive species, returning collected wildlife to state waters after holding them in captivity offsite, or doing work that requires other permits from CDFW (e.g., a Memorandum of Understanding pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act or an Importation Permit).
Applications that are incomplete or are unclear take longer to process and may need to be returned for edits. Other processing delays may occur if there are delays with paying the required fees.
Tips for Applying
General Tips
- For all Specific Use applications, complete Section 4e. Taxonomic Group so that the application is routed to the correct branch of the SCP program. This is true even when not collecting any wildlife (e.g., project is limited to deploying sensors in an MPA). If unsure which Taxonomic Group to list, contact the SCP program SCPPermits@wildlife.ca.gov.
- Check the status of an application under the “My Permits and Applications” tab on the SCP Portal dashboard.
- There are two fees associated with SCPs: application and permit fee. These are required for both new and renewal applications.
- General Use applications can be submitted for “Administrative Review” prior to paying the application fee. However, once the Administrative Review is complete, pay the application fee so the permit can continue to be processed.
- Specific Use applications do not undergo an Administrative Review. CDFW staff will not receive the application until the application fee is paid.
- For both General Use and Specific Use applications, the permit fee must be paid before the SCP can be issued. Always check to confirm the correct fee is paid:
- Standard or Student
- General Use or Specific Use
- Application, amendment, or permit fee
- For Specific Use amendment and renewal applications, complete the “Type of Request” section, or you will not be able to submit the application.
- Use the copy feature to add similar lines of data in Section 4f(1)(a) Targeted Wildlife table. To do this, enter a line of data, save and close, then go back into that line by selecting “edit” on the left side of the row, and then select “yes” under copy, then save and close. This will add a duplicate line to the bottom of the table. This is good if there are many similar fields with slight variations (e.g., same location but different species or same species but lots of different locations).
- For fields where multiple selections are allowed, like the location field, hold down the CTRL button on the keyboard. This allows selection of multiple items in the drop-down table after the Portal is done searching for the item of interest.
- Documents can be uploaded to Section 6 of the application, however those documents are not included in the final SCP document. Therefore, also complete the relevant sections in the body of the application.
Marine-Specific Tips
- All entries in the Targeted Wildlife table must have specific quantities unless using one of the following methods which can request “Unknown” quantities:
- Recruitment modules
- Plankton tows
- Sediment cores
- Baited remote underwater vehicles (BRUVs)
- If taking algae or kelp, when completing Section 4f(1)(a). Targeted Wildlife table, include units in the “Quantity” box. The most common units are abbreviated as follows:
- “i” = whole individuals
- “b” = blades
- “kg, lbs, or g” = for weight
- “s” = sporophyll
- San Diego Bay and Newport Bay are both considered to be systems infested with the invasive algae Caulerpa. If research in these bays will result in bottom contact, assess if this work can occur outside of the infested system. If not, elaborate on why in the body of the application. If working in these systems, additional permitting conditions related to Caulerpa will apply. Learn more about Caulerpa in California.
- Appropriate permits for projects involving captive breeding and/or captive rearing depends on the intended purpose and use of the wildlife. Typically, if the purpose is scientific, educational, management, or conservation, it falls under an SCP. If the purpose is for development of a product or commercial use, it typically falls under one or more of the following: aquaculture registration, broodstock collection permit, private stocking permit. SCPs are most appropriate for the following:
- When there will be no commercial activities or profit resulting from take of wildlife, including progeny. For example, when oysters are harvested under an SCP and bred under an SCP, the resulting offspring cannot be sold.
- When human consumption of the collected wildlife or resulting progeny is not a primary goal of the project.
- Pilot projects which test whether a particular idea or approach is feasible. These can be a precursor to an application for commercial aquaculture registration.
- Learn more about Aquaculture Registrations and apply. For information about broodstock collection permits or private stocking permits, contact the Marine Region.
Other Permits
Other permits or permissions from CDFW may be needed in addition to an SCP.
As a reminder, SCPs do not relieve the permittee of the responsibility to obtain any permits from other permitting agencies including State, Federal or local government. It is your responsibility to know and obtain all necessary permits.
Learn More
Learn more about the SCPs and the application process, including:
- Details on the application process
- Submitting required notifications to CDFW (including Notification of Field Work or Activity and Mandatory Wildlife Reports)
- How to pay fees
- Contact information for other SCP branches
Apply for an SCP through the SCP Portal.
Subscribe to receive informational updates from the Marine Region Scientific Collecting Permit program, including availability of new resources or guidance to support completing permit applications and advisories regarding the online permitting system.
Contact the Marine SCP Program.
For general questions about the SCP program, technical issues with the SCP Portal, and other general questions, contact the SCP program.
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