HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 5642

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to limiting the number of fishers eligible to commercially fish for Puget Sound Dungeness crab.

Brief Description:  Regulating the taking of Dungeness crab in Puget Sound.

Sponsors:  Senators Spanel and Oke.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  3/28/97, 4/3/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Buck, Chairman; Sump, Vice Chairman; Thompson, Vice Chairman; Regala, Ranking Minority Member; Alexander; Anderson; Chandler; Hatfield; Pennington and Sheldon.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

Background:  The Puget Sound Dungeness crab fishery is subject to limited entry requirements.  In 1996, there were 236 resident licenses and 13 non-resident licenses issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  The director of the department is authorized to issue new Puget Sound crab licenses as necessary to maintain a total of 200 licenses.

Federal funds are available on a match basis for buy-back of vessels to reduce fishing pressure.  The recently reauthorized Magnuson Fisheries Conservation and Management Act includes a provision that establishes  priority for federal buy-back dollars to fisheries that avoid overcapitalization.

Summary of Bill:  The director may issue new Puget Sound Dungeness crab licenses only as necessary to maintain a total of 125 licenses.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For: The bill is necessary to receive  federal buy-back dollars for the Puget Sound crab fishery.  The Director of Fish and Wildlife is working with the Secretary of Commerce to secure buy-back funds for this fishery.  Limiting  the potential for overcapitalization of this fishery will help to secure federal funding.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Harriet Spanel, prime sponsor; Ed Owens, Intersound Crab Association; and Brian Edie, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (pro).