SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5443

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines, January 31, 2001

Title:  An act relating to commercial salmon licenses.

Brief Description:  Changing required renewal dates in order to validly renew certain commercial fishing licenses.

Sponsors:  Senators Spanel, Jacobsen and Kohl‑Welles; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines:  1/29/01, 1/31/01 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5443 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Constantine, McDonald, Morton, Oke, Snyder and Stevens.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786‑7413)

Background:  Commercial salmon net fishing is a limited entry fishery in which licensees must renew their license annually in order to retain its validity.  There is a statutory provision which allows opting not to fish, payment of $115, suspending the license for one year, and allowing renewal the following year.

Existing law requires the salmon net fisher to elect by August 1 the renewal or suspension option.  If the deadline was extended to September 16, then fishers could make their decision to fish based on more complete salmon run size estimates and other considerations.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The annual deadline for commercial salmon net fishers to renew or suspend their license is extended from August 1 to the third Monday in September.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The renewal deadline is changed from September 16 to the third Monday in September.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on January 23, 2001.

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

Testimony For:  Delaying the renewal deadline for commercial fishers would assist them in determining if they would actively fish or opt to suspend their license based on up‑to‑date salmon run information.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Bruce Crawford, Josh Weiss, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; Will Roehl, Fish and Wildlife Commission; Ed Owens, Purse Seiners Vessel Owners.