2. Term. Council members serve for 3 years and continue serving until a successor is duly appointed and qualified. In the case of a vacancy, the commissioner shall promptly fill the vacancy.

3. Purpose. The council shall make recommendations to the commissioner concerning expenditures from the Salmon Aquaculture Monitoring, Research and Development Fund for the purposes described under section 6078, subsections 4 and 7 6078-A, subsections 3 and 4.

4. Chair and officers. The council annually shall choose one of its members to serve as chair for a one-year term. The council may select other officers and designate their duties.

5. Meetings. The council shall meet at least once each year. It may also meet at other times at the call of the chair or the chair's designee or the commissioner or the commissioner's designee. The council may conduct a meeting by means of a conference call linking 2 or more members of the council.

Sec. 21. Transfers from existing accounts. The Department of Marine Resources may transfer the existing balance and encumbrances from the Salmon Aquaculture Monitoring, Research and Development Fund at any time prior to its lapsing to the Aquaculture Monitoring, Research and Development Fund in order to fund any of the activities outlined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6080.

Sec. 22. Transition clause. The operation, purpose, duties and obligations of the Maine Salmon Aquaculture Advisory Council are transferred to the Aquaculture Advisory Council. Members serving on the Maine Salmon Aquaculture Advisory Council on the effective date of this Act may continue to serve out their terms as members of the Aquaculture Advisory Council.