1.  License eligibility.  The commissioner may not issue a sea cucumber drag license under section 6801-A to any person unless that person possessed that license in the previous calendar year or becomes eligible to obtain that license pursuant to a limited entry system under subsection 2.  

2.  Sea cucumber drag license limited entry system.  The commissioner may establish by rule a limited entry system under which a person who did not hold a sea cucumber drag license under section 6801-A in the previous calendar year may become eligible to obtain that license. The rules for a limited entry system must include provisions for the method and administration of the system. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.  

3.  Exceptions.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, the following persons may be issued a sea cucumber drag license for license year 2006:  

4.  Protection from depletion.  The commissioner may adopt rules for the sea cucumber drag license limited entry system to prohibit new entry in a year when it is necessary to protect or conserve the sea cucumber resource from imminent depletion.