Can you collect Sea Anemones?

[crzyfish]

A friend of mine asked if it was okay to collect a few sea anemones at the tide pools in Santa Cruz. I told him, in my better judgment - "No". Sea anemones are not for eating, unlike sea urchins and scallops, which requires a fishing license, so the law would be different.

I was checking DFG and couldn't find anything on it. When in doubt, don't do it. What's the rules on this? Any links would be good. I read there's a $350 fine for collecting mussels in Santa Cruz without a license (and during the season).

 

[drbill]

I'm not sure myself if sea anemones are excluded from the requirement of a fishing license, but many invertebrates are. Tell your friend they'd probably be a bit spicy due to their stinging cells (nematocysts), but that some cultures do eat jellyfish.