HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1031

BYRepresentatives L. Smith and Bumgarner

Requiring licenses for professional salmon fishing guides.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (14)

      Signed by Representatives Sutherland, Chair; K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Amondson,  Beck, Bumgarner, Cole, Hargrove, Haugen,  Meyers,  Schmidt, C. Smith, Spanel, B. Williams and S. Wilson.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (3)

      Signed by Representatives Basich, Belcher and Sayan.

House Staff:Bill Koss (786-7129)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 11, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Fisheries licenses individuals who fish commercially for salmon and other food fish.  Commercial licenses cost from $5 for a carp license to $300 for a salmon purse seine license.  Charter boat operators pay an annual license fee of $200.

Charter boats include any vessel from which people may catch fish upon payment of a fee.  It excludes privately leased recreational boats and boats used by guides taking freshwater sports anglers to catch salmon.

The Department of Game licenses guides to take clients fishing for game fish.  The annual license costs $150 for residents and $500 for non-residents.  In 1986, 228 individuals bought resident fishing guide licenses and 7 bought non-resident fishing guide licenses.  This is down from 1986 when 337 residents bought guide licenses, but up from 1984 when 87 residents purchased licenses.  The number of licenses sold varies according to the abundance of steelhead.

Oregon charges $25 per year for a fishing guide license for both residents and non-residents.

SUMMARY:

To operate as a guide for salmon fishing in freshwater rivers and streams requires a license issued by the Department of Fisheries.  The license costs $50 for residents and $500 for non-residents.

The exception is the Columbia River below the bridge at Longview.  Below that point, existing law requires a charter boat license.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Linda Smith, Prime Sponsor; Bernie Jones, Citizen; Dan Collins, Vancouver Bass Trackers.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    A $500 fee for out-of-state guides will diminish the number of people on the river, making fishing better.  Requiring a license for guides helps produce some state revenue.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.