HOUSE BILL REPORT

                     SSB 5082

                           As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to professional salmon fishing guides.

Brief Description:  Requiring licenses for professional salmon fishing guides.

Sponsor(s):  Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Bauer, L. Smith and Oke).

Brief History:

   Reported by House Committee on:

Fisheries & Wildlife, April 4, 1991, DPA;

Passed House, April 18, 1991, 97-0;

Passed Legislature, 97-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives R. King, Chair; Morris, Vice Chair; Wilson, Ranking Minority Member; Fuhrman, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Haugen; Hochstatter; Orr; and Padden.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 2 members:  Representatives Cole; and Spanel.

Staff:  Keitlyn Watson (786-7310).

Background:

Current Licensing Requirements

Guides for recreational fishing in Washington are currently licensed by the Department of Wildlife for game fish including steelhead.  The license requirement is an annual fee of $150.00 and $500.00 for Washington residents and non-residents, respectively.  Charter boat licenses are administered by the Department of Fisheries, and are required for operation in the Columbia River below the bridge at Longview, in Lake Washington, and in saltwater.  The license requirement for a charter boat license is an annual fee as follows:  Salmon resident - $275.00; Salmon non-resident - $550.00; Other-than-salmon-resident - $135.00; and Other-than salmon non-resident - $270.00.

Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups

In 1989, the Legislature authorized the establishment of Regional Fisheries Enhancement groups to encourage and assist volunteer efforts to enhance the salmon resources of the state.  In 1990, the Legislature established a dedicated account to fund the operations of the groups.  The account is funded by a surcharge of $1.00 on recreational salmon fishing licenses and $100.00 on commercial salmon fishing licenses and salmon charter boat licenses issued by the Department of Fisheries.  The license surcharge took effect on January 1 of this year.

Summary of Bill:  A professional salmon guide license or permit issued by the director of the Department of Fisheries is required to operate as a guide for salmon for personal use in freshwater rivers and streams, other than that part of the Columbia River below the bridge at Longview.  The annual license fees shall be $50.00 for residents and $500.00 for nonresidents.  Surcharges of $20.00 and $100.00 are to be assessed on each resident guide license and nonresident guide license, respectively, for funding the Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups.  The House Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources shall evaluate whether the salmon fishing guide license fees under this act constitute sufficient requirements for salmon fishing guides operating in freshwater rivers and streams.  These committees shall report back to the Legislature by December 31, 1991, with their recommendations.

RCW 77-12-480 is repealed.  This statute provides that taking wildlife from the boundary waters or islands of the Snake River shall be in accordance with the respective Washington and Idaho wildlife laws, and that Washington wildlife agents honor both state's licenses in enforcing wildlife laws in the boundary waters or islands of the Snake River.  By the repealer, these provisions are removed.

Fiscal Note:   Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Anything we can do to improve the state's salmon resources is positive.  Oregon fisheries take advantage of the lack of a guide requirement to fish out Washington waters.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Bauer, prime sponsor (in favor); Mel Gruelle and Curt McFarlane, Southwest Washington Angler's Association (in favor); Susan Markey, Washington Department of Fisheries (neutral); and Jim King, Washington State Sportsmen's Council (has concerns; guide requirements don't go far enough; will result in a financial loss to the state; liability issues are a concern).