An experimental fishing permit (EFP) is a permit approved by the California Fish and Game Commission (CFGC) and issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to allow commercial or recreational marine fishing activities that would otherwise be prohibited under current state fishing laws. Specifically, these permits will be authorized for one or a combination of the following purposes: research, education, limited testing, data collection, compensation fishing, conservation engineering, and exploratory fishing. An EFP exempts a permittee only from those state fishing laws and regulations authorized under the permit. All other applicable laws and regulations remain in effect.