Section 8494.

(a) Commencing April 1, 2006, any vessel using bottom trawl gear in state-managed halibut fisheries, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 8841, shall possess a valid California halibut bottom trawl permit that has not been suspended or revoked and that is issued by the department authorizing the use of trawl gear by that vessel for the take of California halibut.

(b) A California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit shall be issued annually, commencing with the 2006 permit year. Commencing with the 2007–08 season, in order to be eligible for that permit, an applicant shall have been issued a California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit in the immediately preceding permit year.

(c) The department shall not issue a California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit pursuant to this section for use in the California halibut fishery unless that vessel has landed a minimum of 200 pounds of California halibut and reported that landing on fish landing receipts as being caught with bottom trawl gear in at least one of the following:

(1) At least two of the calendar years 1995 to 2003, inclusive.

(2) At least one of the calendar years 1995 to 2003, inclusive, and from January 1, 2004, to February 19, 2004, inclusive.

(d) Permits issued pursuant to this section may be transferred only if at least one of the following occur:

(1) The commission adopts a restricted access program for the fishery that is consistent with the commission's policies regarding restricted access to commercial fisheries.

(2) Prior to the implementation of a restricted access program, the permit is transferred to another vessel owned by the same permitholder of equal or less capacity, as determined by the department, and if the originally permitted vessel was lost, stolen, destroyed, or suffered a major irreparable mechanical breakdown. The department may not issue a permit for a replacement vessel if the department determines that the originally permitted vessel was fraudulently reported as lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged. Only the permitholder at the time of the loss, theft, destruction, or irreparable mechanical breakdown of a vessel may apply to transfer the vessel permit. Evidence that a vessel is lost, stolen, or destroyed shall be in the form of a copy of the report filed with the United States Coast Guard, or any other law enforcement agency or fire department that conducted an investigation of the loss.

(3) Prior to the implementation of a halibut trawl restricted access program, the commission may consider requests from a vessel permitholder or his or her conservator or estate representative to transfer a permit with the vessel if both of the following conditions are met:

(A) The permitholder has died, is permanently disabled, or the permitholder is at least 65 years of age and has decided to retire from commercial fishing.

(B) California halibut landings contributed significantly to the record and economic income derived from the vessel, as determined by regulations adopted by the commission. The commission may request information that it determines is reasonably necessary from the permitholder or his or her heirs or estate for the purpose of verifying statements in the request prior to authorizing the transfer of the permit.

(e) The commission shall establish California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit fees based on the recommendations of the department and utilizing the guidelines outlined in subdivision (b) of Section 711 to cover the costs of administering this section. Prior to the adoption of a restricted access program pursuant to subdivision (d), fees may not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per permit.

(f) Individuals holding a federal groundfish trawl permit may retain and land up to 150 pounds of California halibut per trip without a California halibut trawl permit in accordance with federal and state regulations, including, but not limited to, regulations developed under a halibut fishery management plan.

(g) This section shall become inoperative upon the adoption by the commission of a halibut fishery management plan in accordance with the requirements of Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7050).

(h) The commission may adopt regulations to implement this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 188. Effective January 1, 2007. Inoperative on date prescribed in subd. (g).)