(a) The commission, upon recommendation of the department or upon its own motion and in consultation with the sea cucumber fishing industry, may adopt regulations, including provisions governing seasons, gear restrictions, hours of operation, and any other measures that it determines may reasonably be necessary to protect the sea cucumber resource and to assure a sustainable sea cucumber fishery or to enhance enforcement activities.

(b) The number of sea cucumber permits issued for the April 1, 1997, to March 31, 1998, inclusive, permit year shall constitute the maximum number of permits available for all subsequent permit years for the sea cucumber fishery. The department may establish by regulation a method, if necessary, to reissue any sea cucumber permit not renewed or transferred. The permit type of a sea cucumber permit, either trawl or dive, that is reissued shall not be transferable.

(c) The commission may permanently revoke the sea cucumber permit of any person convicted of the unlawful taking of any California halibut while operating pursuant to a sea cucumber permit. The commission may revoke the sea cucumber permit of any person convicted of any other violation of this code or regulation adopted pursuant thereto while operating pursuant to a sea cucumber permit. Any revocation of a permit pursuant to this subdivision shall be in addition to any action the department may take pursuant to Section 12000.

(d) Subsequent to the 1997–98 permit year, the department, using existing funds, may determine the actual costs to the department of enforcing this article. The commission, upon recommendation of the department, may adjust the fee for the issuance or transfer of a permit to an amount not to exceed three hundred fifty dollars ($350), to reflect the actual cost of enforcing this article.

(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 585, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997. Inoperative April 1, 2030. Repealed as of January 1, 2031, pursuant to Section 8405.4.)