The commissioner may assist in and encourage the formation of qualified salmon fishery associations for the purpose of promoting the consolidation of the fishing fleet in a salmon fishery for which the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission has issued commercial fishing entry permits under AS 16.43. A salmon fishery association is qualified if the commissioner determines that the regional association
(1) is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under AS 10.20;
(2) is comprised of interim-use permit and entry permit holders in the salmon fishery for which the association is established; and
(3) has a board of directors that is comprised of interim-use permit and entry permit holders in the salmon fishery.