(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, any person who holds a current passenger-for-hire license issued by the United States Coast Guard and a current party or charter fishing vessel registration issued by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to section 26-142a shall not be prohibited from operating a vessel registered with a marine dealer registration number issued pursuant to section 15-145 , provided any such person operates a recreational charter fishing guide service using a vessel registered with such a marine dealer registration number in connection with such guide service.
(b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall not revoke a marine dealer registration number issued pursuant to section 15-145 for any vessel used in compliance with subsection (a) of this section.