FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5642

                          C 115 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

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

Sponsors:  Senators Spanel and Oke.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

House Committee on Natural Resources

Background:  The Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife may accept new applications for Puget Sound dungeness crab commercial fishery licenses when fewer than 200 fishers have active licenses.

There is interest in reducing the level at which new applications would be accepted to below 125 active licenses in order to better match the size of the commercial crab fleet to the available crab resource.

Summary:  The director may accept new applications for Puget Sound dungeness commercial crab fishing licenses when the number of licenses falls below 125.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 46 0

House     96 0

Effective:  July 27, 1997