(a) 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 vessel 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, and commencing with the 2006 permit year, shall be issued only to a person who had been issued a California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit in the immediately preceding permit year.

(c) 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) (A) Before the implementation of a halibut trawl restricted access program, the department may consider requests from a vessel permitholder or the permitholder’s conservator or estate representative, as applicable, to transfer a vessel permit to a vessel consistent with the requirements of subparagraph (B) or (C). The department may request information that it determines is reasonably necessary from the permitholder or the permitholder’s conservator or heirs or estate for the purpose of verifying statements in the request before authorizing the transfer of the permit.

(B) The department may approve the transfer of a California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit to a replacement vessel if all of the following requirements are met:

(i) In the form of a notarized application, the permitholder submits to the department a request for the transfer of a California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit to another vessel owned by the permitholder.

(ii) The permitholder provides a current United States Coast Guard certificate of documentation or vessel marine survey to the department for the permitted vessel and replacement vessel.

(iii) Based on the information provided pursuant to clause (ii), the department determines that the replacement vessel is equal to or less than the capacity of the permitted vessel.

(iv) The department determines the California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit for the permitted vessel is valid and has not been suspended or revoked.

(v) If applicable, the department receives written confirmation from the replacement vessel’s owner or authorized agent, or mortgager, of the vessel’s participation in the transfer of the California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit.

(vi) The replacement vessel is registered with the department pursuant to Section 7881 at the time the application is submitted pursuant to clause (i).

(C) The department may approve the transfer of a California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit to another person if all of the following requirements are met:

(i) In the form of a notarized application, the permitholder or the permitholder’s conservator or estate submits to the department a request to transfer a California halibut bottom trawl vessel permit to another person.

(ii) If the permitholder’s estate submits a request pursuant to clause (i), the estate submits the notarized application to the department within one year of the death of the permitholder as listed on the death certificate.

(iii) A current United States Coast Guard certificate of documentation or vessel marine survey is provided to the department for the permitted vessel and vessel to be used by the proposed transferee.

(iv) Based on the information provided pursuant to clause (iii), the department determines that the vessel to be used by the proposed transferee is equal to or less than the capacity of the permitted vessel.

(v) The proposed transferee meets both of the following requirements:

(I) The person has a valid commercial fishing license issued pursuant to Section 7852 that has not been suspended or revoked.

(II) The person is the owner of a commercial fishing vessel that is registered with the department pursuant to Section 7881 and that registration has not been suspended or revoked.

(vi) The permit for the permitted vessel is current, and the permitholder or the permitholder’s conservator or estate submitting the application is responsible for any renewal of the permit that becomes due during the application processing period.

(vii) Under penalty of perjury, the permitholder or the permitholder’s conservator or estate signs the application for transfer and certifies that the information included is true to the best of the permitholder’s information and belief.

(D) Any applicant who is denied transfer pursuant to this paragraph may appeal the denial in writing describing the basis for the appeal to the commission within 60 days from the date of the department’s decision.

(d) 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. Before the adoption of a restricted access program pursuant to subdivision (c), fees may not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per permit.

(e) 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.

(f) 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).

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

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 132, Sec. 161. (AB 1760) Effective January 1, 2024. Inoperative on date prescribed in subd. (f).)