LICENSING.

(a) No person may engage in business as a commercial finfish fisherman unless the person has obtained a commercial finfish fisherman's license.

(b) No person may engage in commercial finfish fishing unless:

(1) the person has in their immediate possession:

(A) a commercial finfish fisherman's license issued to the person; or

(B) a general commercial fisherman's license issued to the person, a commercial finfish fisherman's license issued to another person, and a copy of an affidavit that:

(i) authorizes the person to use commercial finfish fishing devices owned by the person to whom the commercial finfish fisherman's license was issued; and

(ii) contains the date, the original signature of the person to whom the commercial finfish fisherman's license was issued, and the commercial finfish fisherman's license number that matches the commercial finfish fisherman's license plate number on the boat, if the department requires a license plate; or

(2) the person has in their immediate possession a commercial finfish fisherman's license or a general commercial fisherman's license, and another person has in their immediate possession the documentation described by Subdivision (1).

(c) Beginning September 1, 2000, the department shall issue a commercial finfish fisherman's license only to a person who documents in a manner acceptable to the department that the person held a commercial finfish fisherman's license during the period after September 1, 1997, through April 20, 1999.

(d) A proclamation issued under this section shall establish a commercial finfish fisherman's license in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.