(1) A sea cucumber dive fishery license is required to take sea cucumbers for commercial purposes. A sea cucumber dive fishery license authorizes the use of only one diver in the water at any time during sea cucumber harvest operations. If the same vessel has been designated on two sea cucumber dive fishery licenses, two divers may be in the water. A natural person may not hold more than two sea cucumber dive fishery licenses. (2) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, the director shall issue no new sea cucumber dive fishery licenses. For licenses issued for the year 2000 and thereafter, the director shall renew existing licenses only to a natural person who held the license at the end of the previous year. If a sea cucumber dive fishery license is not held by a natural person as of December 31, 1999, it is not renewable. However, if the license is not held because of revocation or suspension of licensing privileges, the director shall renew the license in the name of a natural person at the end of the revocation or suspension if the license holder applies for renewal of the license before the end of the year in which the revocation or suspension ends. (3) Where a licensee failed to obtain the license during either of the previous two years because of a license suspension by the director or the court, the licensee may qualify for a license by establishing that the person held such a license during the last year in which the person was eligible. (4) Sea cucumber dive fishery licenses are transferable subject to the fees and restrictions in RCW 77.65.020(2). (5) If fewer than twenty persons are eligible for sea cucumber dive fishery licenses, the director may accept applications for new licenses. The additional licenses may not cause more than twenty natural persons to be eligible for a sea cucumber dive fishery license. New licenses issued under this section shall be distributed according to rules of the department that recover the value of such licensed privilege. [ 2017 3rd sp.s. c 8 s 46; 2011 c 339 s 33; 2010 c 193 s 15; 2005 c 110 s 2; 2001 c 253 s 59; 1999 c 126 s 2; 1998 c 190 s 105; 1993 c 340 s 44; 1990 c 61 s 2. Formerly RCW 75.30.250.]
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