Sec. 16.05.710. - Suspension of commercial license and entry permit.

(a) Upon the conviction of a person for a misdemeanor or felony violation of a commercial fishing law of this state, in a fishery other than a commercial salmon fishery, the court, in addition to other penalties imposed by law,

(1) may suspend one or more of the person's commercial fishing privileges and licenses for a period of not more than one year if the conviction is the person's first or second misdemeanor or felony conviction within a 10-year period for violating a commercial fishing law of this state, in a fishery other than a commercial salmon fishery, or another jurisdiction; or

(2) shall suspend one or more of the person's commercial fishing privileges and licenses for a period of not more than three years if the conviction is the person's third or subsequent misdemeanor or felony conviction within a 10-year period for violating a commercial fishing law of this state, in a fishery other than a commercial salmon fishery, or another jurisdiction.

(b) Upon a first conviction of a person for a violation of AS 11.46.120 - 11.46.130 in which the property is commercial fishing gear as defined in AS 16.43.990 , the court shall, in addition to the penalty imposed by law, suspend one or more of the person's commercial fishing privileges and licenses for one year. Upon a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of AS 11.46.120 - 11.46.130 or a similar law of another jurisdiction in which the property is commercial fishing gear as defined in AS 16.43.990 , the court shall, in addition to the penalty imposed by law, suspend one or more of the person's commercial fishing privileges and licenses for two years.

(c) If proceedings in which commercial fishing privileges or licenses may be suspended under this section are pending against a limited entry permit holder, the permit holder's limited entry permit may not be permanently transferred, unless allowed by order of the court in which the proceedings are pending, and a permanent transfer of the permit, unless allowed by order of the court, is void. During the period for which a limited entry permit or the permit holder's right to obtain a limited entry permit or to engage in an activity for which a limited entry permit is required is suspended under this section, a permit card may not be issued to the permit holder and the permit holder's permit may not be transferred or sold.

(d) In this section

(1) "commercial fishing law" means a statute or regulation that regulates the conduct of a person engaged in commercial fishing activities by establishing requirements relating to fishing licenses and permits; catch records and reports; size, nature, or use of fishing vessels, sites, and gear; time, place, or manner of taking fishery resources; possession, transportation, sale, barter, or waste of fishery resources; or other aspects of commercial fishing;

(2) "commercial fishing license" means a limited entry permit or a crew member license;

(3) "commercial fishing privilege" means the privilege of participating in an activity for which a commercial fishing license is required and the privilege of obtaining a commercial fishing license;

(4) "limited entry permit" means an entry permit or an interim-use permit issued under AS 16.43.