HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5578

                       As Passed House

                       April 12, 1993

Title:  An act relating to clarifying the areas where a personal use fishing license is not required.

Brief Description:  Clarifying the areas where a personal use fishing license is not required.

Sponsors:  Senators Fraser, Owen, Oke, Hargrove, Haugen and Winsley.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Fisheries & Wildlife, March 30, 1993, DP;

  Passed House, April 12, 1993, 92-0.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 9 members:  Representatives King, Chair; Orr, Vice Chair; Fuhrman, Ranking Minority Member; Sehlin, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Basich; Chappell; Foreman; Lemmon; and Scott.

Staff:  Keitlyn Watson (786-7310).

Background:  The Department of Fisheries requires a personal use fishing license for recreational harvest of carp in most areas of the state.  However, such a license is not required to fish for carp in the Columbia River above Chief Joseph Dam.

Summary of Bill:  A personal use fishing license is not required for recreational harvest of carp anywhere in the state.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Carp in large numbers can adversely impact lake habitat.  They stir up sediment on lake bottoms, contributing to algae problems and smothering bass eggs.  Carp also compete with more desirable game fish.  Efforts to decrease carp populations with Rotenone have been largely unsuccessful.  Volunteers have organized "carp derby" group fishing events as a way to improve lake habitat by decreasing the carp population; the carp can be eaten or donated to nonprofit organizations.  However, personal use licenses are required to fish for carp.  It would be good to assist such volunteer efforts, as well as encourage sport fishers in general to harvest carp, by removing the license requirement.  Carp is not a managed fishery in Washington, and revenue derived from the license does not go back into the fishery.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Karen Fraser, prime sponsor (pro); Wally Kydland, Lakes Improvement Association (pro); Rosemary Walrod, Washington State Lakes Protection Association (pro); and Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries (neutral).