1.  Authorization of changes.  Beginning in calendar year 1997, a person eligible to purchase a license under section 6749-O who wishes to change the zone in which the person harvests sea urchins may not change zones unless the change is authorized by the commissioner in accordance with this section.  

2.  Zone change request on application.  A person eligible to purchase a license under section 6749-O who wishes to change the zone in which that person was licensed to harvest sea urchins in the previous calendar year must indicate on a sea urchin harvesting license application a preference to change the zone in which the person harvests sea urchins. The commissioner shall stamp each sea urchin harvesting license application with the time and date of submission.  

3.  Conditions for authorization.  The total number of authorized change requests for Zone 1 during a licensing year must equal the total authorized requests for Zone 2. The commissioner shall authorize zone change requests in chronological order of requests received under this section.  

4.  Limitation on approving zone changes.  The commissioner may not authorize a zone change between August 1st and December 31st.  

5.  Effective date of zone change.  The effective date of a zone change authorized by the commissioner is August 1st.