The Legislature finds and declares that the charter boat industry operates in the public interest by providing jobs, nutritious food, education, recreation, and joy for Californians and their visitors. The appreciation of whales in their natural habitat has increased enormously in recent years, along with the number of off-shore excursions embarking from California harbors, carrying people from all over the world close to whales that pass along our shore. Because Pacific Ocean conditions, especially in winter, may suddenly turn rough or even hazardous, the public health and safety, as well as the continued vitality of the charter boat industry, is best served by appropriate safety regulation.

(Added by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1049, Sec. 1. Effective September 26, 1983.)