(1) The State Fish and Wildlife Commission may establish by rule a lottery for issuing permits to vessels under ORS 508.947.
(2) A vessel may qualify for the lottery if the vessel:
(a) Has a boat license issued pursuant to ORS 508.260 for the current year; and
(b) Had a boat license issued pursuant to ORS 508.260 for the previous year.
(3) Based on an assessment of the resource, the commission may:
(a) Suspend the lottery for up to two years; and
(b) Renew a suspension of the lottery every two years.
(4) The commission shall establish by rule a threshold number of permits below which the department shall issue permits through the lottery.