(a) If, after the initial issuance of vessel entry permits for the Bering Sea hair crab fishery, the commission determines that a long-term biological or economic change has occurred in the fishery, the commission, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Game, shall establish the optimum number range of vessel entry permits for the fishery.
(b) In determining the optimum number range of vessel entry permits, the commission shall seek to
(1) facilitate sound management of the fishery;
(2) promote
(A) the economic health and stability of the fishery;
(B) broad access to the fishery;
(C) conservation of the fish resources taken in the fishery;
(D) quality seafood products; and
(3) discourage waste of harvested fish.
(c) The commission may increase or decrease the optimum number range of vessel entry permits for a fishery if the commission finds that an established long-term change in the biological or economic condition of the fishery has occurred and that the number of vessel entry permits that are necessary to achieve the goals set out in (b) of this section has substantially changed.
(d) If the optimum number range of vessel entry permits is less than the number of outstanding vessel permits for the fishery, the commission may adopt regulations to allow the voluntary consolidation of vessel entry permits by permit holders, including entities. The commission may investigate procedures to permanently reduce the number of vessel permits issued for a fishery to within the optimum number range.
(e) If the optimum number range of vessel entry permits is greater than the number of permits authorized for the fishery, the commission shall issue additional vessel entry permits until the number of vessel entry permits is consistent with the optimum number range for the fishery. The commission shall obtain fair market value for new vessel entry permits issued under this subsection. The commission shall determine whether the additional vessel entry permits issued under this subsection are transferable or nontransferable.
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