Herring fishery license—Limitations on issuance

(1) A person shall not fish commercially for herring in state waters without a herring fishery license. As used in this section, "herring fishery license" means any of the following commercial fishery licenses issued under RCW 77.65.200: Herring dip bag net; herring drag seine; herring gill net; herring lampara; herring purse seine. (2) Except as provided in this section, a herring fishery license may be issued only to a person who held the license sought to be renewed during the previous year or acquired the license by transfer from someone who held it during the previous year, and if the person has not subsequently transferred the license to another person. (3) Herring fishery licenses may be renewed each year. A herring fishery license that is not renewed each year shall not be renewed further. (4) The director may issue additional herring fishery licenses if the stocks of herring will not be jeopardized by granting additional licenses. (5) Subject to the restrictions of RCW 77.65.020, herring fishery licenses are transferable from one license holder to another.