SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5501

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES,

                               FEBRUARY 21, 1991

Brief Description:  Restricting the transfer of commercial salmon fishing licenses.

SPONSORS:Senators Owen, Sutherland, L. Smith, Vognild, Amondson and Bauer.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5501 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Barr, Conner, Owen, Snyder, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786‑7413)

Hearing Dates:February 18, 1991; February 21, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Commercial salmon fishers must land salmon every year in order to validate their licenses.  However, there is no minimum number of salmon or poundage which must be landed in order to retain the commercial license.

Commercial salmon licenses may be freely sold to any willing buyer.

SUMMARY:

Restrictions are placed on commercial salmon fishers.  They must land a minimum of 1000 pounds of salmon annually in order to renew their commercial licenses.  Commercial salmon fishers can transfer their licenses only to their son, daughter or spouse.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The Director of Fisheries shall study the need for changing requirements for salmon landings and the sale or transfer of commercial salmon licenses, and shall report to the Legislature by January 1, 1992.  The director shall work closely with the commercial salmon fishing industry.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested February 12, 1991

TESTIMONY FOR:

The commercial salmon industry has too many licenses and the resource cannot support the current number of fishermen.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

The state should not reduce the number of salmon fishermen who are currently licensed.

TESTIFIED:  Ray Nelson, representing commercial fishermen (con); Mark Ashley, Willapa Bay Gillnet Association (con); Barry Jenkins, Trout Unlimited (pro); Donald Stuart, Salmon for Washington (con); Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries; Ernie Summers, Washington Dungeness Crab Fishing Association (con); Bill Chapman, Bremerton Sportsmen's Club (pro); Dennis Benn, Washington Trollers (con); Bob Eaton, Salmon for All, Inc. (con)