California Code, Fish and Game Code - FGC § 8280

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the Dungeness crab fishery is important to the state because it provides a valuable food product, employment for those persons engaged in the fishery, and economic benefits to the coastal communities of the state.

(b) The Legislature further finds that, in order to protect the Dungeness crab fishery, it is necessary to limit the number of vessels participating in that fishery to take Dungeness crab and it may be necessary to limit the quantity and capacity of the fishing gear used on each vessel to take Dungeness crab.

(c) The Legislature further finds and declares that to limit the number of vessels in the Dungeness crab fishery, it is necessary to require that the owner of each vessel participating in the fishery obtain and possess a permit for that vessel and that the initial issuance of permits shall be limited to those persons owning vessels qualifying under Section 8280.1, as that section read on August 1, 2018, or any prior version of that section.