6047-S.E AMH FW H4981.4

ESSB 6047 - H COMM AMD

By Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.    The legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5501 in 1991.  The bill required that the department of fisheries conduct a study to determine the optimum number of commercial fishing licenses.  The subsequent study recommended a reduction in the numbers of licenses, and the numbers recommended were based upon the need for the department to ensure the economic stability of the commercial fishing industry.  There was no specific plan to achieve this reduction.  The legislature believes those affected by the economics of the industry should participate strongly in planning and implementation of actions designed to achieve economic stability in order to ensure a successful outcome."

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.    The governor shall appoint a task force nominated by the commercial fishing industry to address the issue of economic stability in the commercial fishing industry.  The task force shall be officially known as the "task force on economic stability in the commercial fishing industry."  The task force shall consist of two members from each of the salmon troll industry, the Columbia river/Willapa Bay gill net industry, Columbia river/Grays Harbor gill net industry, the Puget Sound gill net industry, and the Puget Sound purse seine industry, and one member from the reef net industry.  One additional member shall be appointed who depends upon commercial fishing for only a portion of his or her livelihood.  The task force shall elect a chair from the appointed members to facilitate the meetings.  The director of fisheries or the director's designee shall provide assistance requested by the task force.  The task force shall provide a progress report to the legislature by January 31, 1993.

    The task force shall submit to the legislature on or before January 31, 1994, a detailed plan to achieve economic stability in the commercial fishing industry.  The task force shall determine the optimum number of licenses in each fishery by gear group, and develop a plan to achieve the optimum number of licenses within a specific time schedule.  The task force shall not include representatives of the charter boat industry, and the plan shall not address the charter boat industry.  The task force shall adopt a resolution setting forth the means and process by which the task force shall operate and the manner in which their plan will be reviewed.

    This section shall expire February 1, 1994."

    "Sec. 3.  RCW 75.28.040 and 1983 1st ex.s. c 46 s 108 are each amended to read as follows:

    Commercial licenses and permits expire at midnight on December 31st following their issuance and in accordance with this title may be renewed annually upon application and payment of the prescribed license fees.  The director shall waive the landing requirement for renewal of commercial salmon licenses in cases where the northwest power planning council conducts a temporary leasing of a commercial salmon fishing license.  The director may adopt rules to accomplish the goals of the leasing program."

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  A new section is added to chapter 75.28 RCW to read as follows:

    The director of the department of fisheries shall waive the landing requirement for commercial salmon license renewal if the director does not provide adequate commercial salmon fishing opportunities."

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.    This act shall not be construed as a reallocation of salmon among user groups."

ESSB 6047 - H COMM AMD

By Committee on Fisheries & Wildlife

    On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "licenses;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 75.28.040; adding a new section to chapter 75.28 RCW; and creating new sections."