(1) The State Department of Fish and Wildlife may issue a black rockfish and blue rockfish vessel permit to an owner of a vessel that landed a minimum of 750 pounds of nontrawl caught black rockfish, blue rockfish or nearshore fish in any one calendar year between January 1, 1995, and January 1, 2001, or in the six-month period between January 1, 2001, and July 1, 2001, for delivery to a fish processor licensed pursuant to ORS § 508.025.

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(2) The department may issue a black rockfish and blue rockfish vessel permit with a nearshore fish endorsement to an owner of a vessel that was issued a permit under the Interim Nearshore Fisheries Plan through the Developmental Fisheries Program.

(3) The department may renew a black rockfish and blue rockfish vessel permit or a black rockfish and blue rockfish vessel permit with a nearshore fish endorsement if the vessel made a minimum of five commercial fish landings during the calendar year prior to the request for renewal for delivery to a fish processor licensed pursuant to ORS § 508.025.

(4) Permits issued under this section expire on December 31 of each year or on such date as may be specified by department rule. An owner of a vessel with a permit must submit a renewal application to the department by January 1 of each year or by such date as may be specified by department rule. If the owner of a vessel with a permit does not timely submit a renewal application, the department shall, not more than 30 days after the application was due, send to the owner by certified letter a notice of the failure to submit the renewal application. An owner may submit a late application to renew a permit not more than 90 days after the application was due if the owner pays a $150 late fee in addition to the fee required in ORS § 508.949.

(5) In making determinations regarding initial eligibility for and renewal of a permit issued under this section, the department may consider department records and receipts and accounts, contracts and other business records of private parties that the department considers reliable.

(6) Except as provided in ORS § 508.955, new vessel permits may not be issued under this section after December 30, 2005. [2003 c.809 § 3; 2005 c.629 § 2; 2007 c.768 § 10]