BILL REQ. #:  H-3868.1 

Read first time 01/14/2004.   Referred to Committee on Fisheries, Ecology & Parks.

     AN ACT Relating to Dungeness crab endorsement; amending RCW 77.32.430; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to optimize the management of the recreational allocation of Dungeness crab in Washington state. To accomplish this task, it is necessary to accurately and efficiently quantify the total catch by recreational fishers for Dungeness crab using data from catch record cards. Therefore, an endorsement fee on the catch record card paid at the time of purchasing a recreational fishing license will be required for Dungeness crab to specifically identify the recreational crab harvesting population. The endorsement fee will significantly improve the precision of the catch estimates by eliminating the current practice of sampling fishers who do not participate in the recreational crab fishery.

Sec. 2   RCW 77.32.430 and 2003 c 318 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Catch record card((s)) information is necessary for proper management of the state's food fish and game fish species and shellfish resources. Catch record card administration shall be ((administered)) under rules adopted by the commission ((and issued at no charge for the)). There is no charge for an initial catch record card ((and ten dollars for)). Each subsequent or duplicate catch record card((. A duplicate catch record [card])) costs ten dollars.
     (2) A license to take and possess Dungeness crab is only valid if the fisher has in possession a valid catch record card officially endorsed for Dungeness crab. The endorsement shall cost no more than three dollars including any or all fees authorized under RCW 77.32.050.
     (3) Catch record cards issued with affixed temporary short-term charter stamp licenses are not subject to the ten-dollar charge ((as)) nor to the Dungeness crab endorsement fee provided for in this section. Charter boat or guide operators issuing temporary short-term charter stamp licenses shall affix the stamp to each catch record card issued before fishing commences. Catch record cards issued with a temporary short-term charter stamp are valid for two consecutive days.
     (3) The department shall include provisions for recording marked and unmarked salmon in catch record cards issued after March 31, 2004.
     (4) The funds received from the sale of catch record cards and the Dungeness crab endorsement must be deposited into the wildlife fund. The funds received from the Dungeness crab endorsement may be used only for the sampling and monitoring of catch associated with the Dungeness crab recreational fisheries.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   This act takes effect December 1, 2004, and applies only to those recreational licenses sold for the 2005-2006 Dungeness crab fishery and to all subsequent recreational Dungeness crab fisheries.