(a)
Any person engaged in the business of licensed commercial fishing may enter into an arrangement with other authorized persons for the pooling of funds to pay claims or losses arising out of loss or damage to a vessel or machinery used in the business of commercial fishing and owned by a member of the pool.
A pool established pursuant to this section is not, and shall not be, subject to the Insurance Code and is not a member of the California Insurance Guarantee Association under Article 14.2
(commencing with Section 1063) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 1 of the Insurance Code.
(b)
The pool established pursuant to this section shall have initial pooled resources of not less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) and the pool shall operate under generally acceptable accounting principles.
(c)
All participating persons in any pool established pursuant to this section shall agree to pay premiums or make other mandatory financial contributions or commitments necessary to ensure a financially sound risk pool.
(d)
For the purpose of this section, “person engaged in the business of licensed commercial fishing” and “authorized person” mean any natural person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other person or entity engaged in the business of fishing for commercial purposes
for which that person or its agents or employees are required to be licensed.