3.__Conditions for authorization.__A request to change management areas is authorized based on the commissioner's assessment of the ability of the management area to sustain additional fishing effort.__The commissioner shall authorize management area change requests in chronological order of requests received under this section.

4.__Limitation on approving management area change.__The commissioner may not authorize a management area change during the period from October 1st to June 30th.

5.__Effective date of management area change.__The effective date of a management area change authorized by the commissioner is October 1st.

SUMMARY

This bill creates a sea cucumber drag license. It requires the Commissioner of Marine Resources to establish by rule a fee of no more than 20¢ for every 100 pounds to be paid monthly by wholesale seafood license holders who purchase sea cucumbers. The fees will be deposited in the Sea Cucumber Management Fund and will be used to research and manage the sea cucumber fishery. The bill also gives the commissioner authority to adopt rules to promote the conservation and propagation of sea cucumbers, including, but not limited to, the establishment of management areas. A protocol for license holders to change management areas is established. This bill sets up a limited entry system for sea cucumbers, under which the commissioner may issue a sea cucumber drag license to a person only if that person possessed a license in the previous calendar year or becomes eligible to obtain a sea cucumber drag license through a limited entry system developed by rule.