SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5360

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Natural Resources & Parks, February 14, 1997

                  Ways & Means, March 7, 1997

Title:  An act relating to the renewal of commercial fishery and salmon charter licenses.

Brief Description:  Providing commercial salmon fishers with a license renewal process when they opt to not renew for a season.

Sponsors:  Senators Hargrove, Anderson, Spanel, Swecker, Haugen, Oke, Snyder and Kline.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  2/7/97, 2/14/97 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means:  3/4/97, 3/7/97 [DPS (NRP)].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5360 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Prentice, Roach, Snyder, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  Aldo Melchiori (786-7439)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5360 as recommended by Committee on Natural Resources & Parks be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators West, Chair; Deccio, Vice Chair; Strannigan, Vice Chair; Bauer, Brown, Fraser, Hochstatter, Kohl, Long, McDonald, Rossi, Schow, Snyder, Spanel, Swecker, Thibaudeau and Winsley.

Staff:   Cathy Baker (786-7708)

Background:  Currently, no new commercial salmon fishing licenses may be issued.  A person may renew an existing license only if the person held a license during the previous year or acquired a license by transfer from a prior license holder.  The deadline for renewal is December 31 of the license year.

The prior license requirement can be waived if the department does not allow any opportunity for a commercial fishery or if, during the calendar year, no harvest opportunity occurs in the corresponding fishery.  License fees are refunded if the department does not allow an opportunity for a commercial fishery.

Similarly, no new salmon charter boat licenses may be issued.  A person may renew an existing license only if the person held a license during the previous year or acquired a license by transfer from a prior license holder.

The prior salmon charter boat license requirement can be waived only if, during the calendar year, no harvest opportunity occurs in the corresponding fishery.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  If a commercial salmon fishing license holder notifies the department by May 1 that he or she will not participate in the fishery during that calendar year and pays the $100 enhancement surcharge plus an additional $15 handling charge, a commercial salmon fishing license may be renewed the following year.

If a commercial salmon gillnet, reef net, or seine fishing license holder notifies the department by August 1 that he or she will not participate in the fishery during that calendar year and pays the $100 enhancement surcharge plus an additional $15 handling charge, a commercial salmon charter boat license may be renewed the following year.

If a salmon charter boat license holder notifies the department by May 1 that he or she will not participate in the fishery during that calendar year and pays the $100 enhancement surcharge plus an additional $15 handling charge, a salmon charter boat license may be renewed the following year.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Under the substitute bill, commercial salmon gillnet, reef net, or seine fishing license holders have until August 1 to notify the department that they will not participate in the fishery.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For (Natural Resource & Parks):  The substitute bill is favored by all fishers testifying.  Pressure on the fisheries is reduced and the department has a better opportunity to accurately predict the fishery.

Testimony Against (Natural Resource & Parks):  None.

Testified (Natural Resource & Parks):  Doug Fricke, WA Trollers Assoc.; Scott Coughlin, Purse Seine Vessel Owner=s Assoc.; Ed Owens, Coalition of Coastal Fisheries.

Testimony For (Ways & Means):  This bill will help reduce harvest pressure without penalizing the remaining commercial salmon fishers.  The bill will have less fiscal impact than if license holders gave up their licenses altogether.  License holders will maintain their commitment to fisheries enhancement by continuing to pay the $100 surcharge.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means):  None.

Testified (Ways & Means):  Senator Jim Hargrove, prime sponsor (pro); Ed Owens, Coalition of Coastal Fisheries (pro); Scott Coughlin, Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association (pro).