(a)
The commission shall encourage the development of new types of commercial fishing gear and new methods of using existing commercial fishing gear by approving permits to be issued by the department, consistent with the policies set forth in Section 1700, for that development or use, subject to the following restrictions:
(1)
A permit is subject to those conditions that the commission deems necessary to ensure the proper utilization and protection of the marine resources, and to minimize user group and resource allocation conflicts.
(2)
A permit is valid for a period of not more than one year, but may be renewed until the Legislature approves or disapproves the permanent use or type of gear pursuant to subdivision (c).
(3)
A permit shall be revoked if the continued use would have an adverse impact on any resource, allocation of a resource, or other adverse impact to established fisheries.
(b)
A permit may authorize the use of new types of commercial fishing gear and new methods of using existing gear otherwise prohibited by this code and may authorize that use or the use of existing gear in areas otherwise closed to that use by this code.
(c)
The commission shall not authorize the issuance of experimental gear permits concerning the use of a gear type in an area, or portion of an area, for more than four consecutive years.
This subdivision applies to all experimental gear permits, whether issued prior to or after January 1, 1992.
(d)
Commencing January 1, 1993, the commission shall not authorize the renewal of experimental gear permits originally issued prior to January 1, 1990, but, notwithstanding this subdivision and subdivision (c), may extend all experimental gear permits in existence on the effective date of the act that amended this section during the 1991 portion of the 1991–92 Regular Session of the Legislature to December 31, 1992, regardless of how many years they have been issued.