(a) A permit holder that sells shellfish harvested from the natural water of the state, or sells shellfish to another permit holder under this chapter, shall use the funds only for reasonable operating costs, including debt retirement, expanding its facilities, a project permitted under AS 16.12.010, shellfish research, or to assist in meeting the department's costs of managing the affected fisheries for the area in which the shellfish release is located.
(b) A permit holder shall ensure that shellfish harvested and sold for human consumption are of comparable quality to shellfish harvested by commercial fisheries in the area and are sold at prices commensurate with the current market.