(a) On or before January 1, 2003, the department shall submit to the commission a comprehensive abalone recovery and management plan. The plan shall contain all of the following:

(1) An explanation of the scientific knowledge regarding the biology, habitat requirements, and threats to abalone.

(2) A summary of the interim and long-term recovery goals, including a range of alternative interim and long-term conservation and management goals and activities. The department shall report why it prefers the recommended activities.

(3) Alternatives for allocating harvest between sport and commercial divers if the allocation of the abalone harvest is warranted.

(4) An estimate of the time and costs required to meet the interim and long-term recovery goals for the species, including available or anticipated funding sources, and an initial projection of the time and costs associated with meeting the final recovery goals. An implementation schedule shall also be included.

(5) An estimate of the time necessary to meet the interim recovery goals and triggers for review and amendment of strategy.

(6) A description of objective measurable criteria by which to determine whether the goals and objectives of the recovery strategy are being met and procedures for recognition of successful recovery. These criteria and procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) Specified abundance and size frequency distribution criteria for former abalone beds within suitable habitat not dominated by sea otters.

(B) Size frequency distributions exhibiting multiple size classes as necessary to ensure continued recruitment into fishable stock.

(C) The reproductive importance to the entire ecosystem of those areas proposed for reopening to harvest and the potential impact of each reopening on the recovery of abalone population in adjacent areas.

(b) Where appropriate, the recovery and management plan may include the following:

(1) A network of no-take abalone reserves.

(2) A total allowable catch, reflecting the long-term yield each species is capable of sustaining, using the best available science and bearing in mind the ecological importance of the species and the variability of marine ecosystems.

(3) A permanent reduction in harvest.

(c) Funding to prepare the recovery and management plan and any planning and scoping meetings shall be derived from the fees collected for the abalone stamp.

(d) On or before January 1, 2008, and following the adoption of the recovery and management plan by the commission, the department may apply to the commission to reopen sport or commercial fishing in all or any portion of the waters described in Section 5521. If the commission makes a finding that the resource can support additional harvest activities and that these activities are consistent with the abalone recovery plan, all or a portion of the waters described in Section 5521 may be reopened and management measures prescribed and implemented, as appropriate. The commission may close or, where appropriate, may establish no-take marine refuges in any area opened pursuant to this section if it makes a finding that this action is necessary to comply with the abalone management plan.

(e) If the commission determines that commercial fishing is an appropriate management measure, priority for participation in the fishery shall be given to those persons who held a commercial abalone permit during the 1996–97 permit year.

(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 787, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1998.)