(a) Notwithstanding any other section of this article or any other provisions of law, the director shall hold a public hearing or hearings in the area of the fishery under consideration after a recommendation by the council to the secretary of a fishery management plan or amendment thereto pursuant to the act, or after approval by the secretary of a fishery management plan or amendment thereto pursuant to the act. If the secretary approves a fishery management plan or amendment thereto which is substantially identical to the fishery management plan or amendment thereto which has been recommended by the council and the director has held a public hearing on the council’s recommended fishery management plan or amendment thereto, the director is not required to hold a second public hearing under this section after the approval by the secretary.

(b) The hearing shall be held not less than four days after the recommendation by the council to the secretary of a fishery management plan or amendment thereto or after the approval by the secretary of a fishery management plan or amendment thereto.

The director shall arrange the time and place of the hearing, shall provide adequate public notice and adequate notice to the appropriate standing policy committee of each house of the Legislature and to the joint committee, and shall convene the hearing at the time and place arranged.

(c) At the hearing or hearings, the director shall take evidence of the effects any proposed regulation would have on the state’s fishery resources, the commercial or recreational fishing industry, and the state’s ability to manage fishery resources in state waters.

(d) After the hearings, the director shall submit a written report to the Legislature which summarizes the reasons for the proposed regulation.

(Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1301, Sec. 3. Effective September 20, 1984.)