California Code, Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8101

(a) Any licensed fisherman shall be eligible for inclusion during the initial year of a limited entry fishery which is established by statute that becomes operative after January 1, 1982, or by regulation that becomes operative after January 1, 1999, regardless of the prescribed conditions for entry into the fishery, if the fisherman presents to the department satisfactory evidence that he or she has been licensed as a California commercial fisherman for at least 20 years and has participated in the fishery for at least one of those 20 years, with qualifying participation in the fishery to be determined by the commission based on landings or other appropriate criteria.

(b) Fishermen who have established eligibility to participate in a limited entry fishery under this section are subject to conditions of continuing eligibility established by statute or regulation if those fishermen desire to maintain their eligibility.