Title: An act relating to recreational fishing for albacore tuna.

Brief Description: Concerning recreational fishing for albacore tuna.

Sponsors: Representatives Buck, Blake and Upthegrove.

Brief History:

Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks: 1/10/06 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by Representatives B. Sullivan, Chair; Upthegrove, Vice Chair; Buck, Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Chandler, Dickerson, Eickmeyer, Hunt, Kagi and Orcutt.

Staff: Amy Van Horn (786-7168).

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) manages wildlife and is responsible for authorizing the taking of wildlife. With the exception of a few fish species, the Department requires a license to fish recreationally, harvest shellfish, and take seaweed. Licenses are sold to persons 15 years or older for an annual fee. The fee is $36 for residents, $72 for non-residents, and $5 for youth. Currently, a license is not required to fish recreationally for albacore tuna.

As a result of this exception, there are no catch limits or permission requirements on albacore tuna fishing in the state, which includes coastal waters out to 200 miles offshore. According to the Department, a voluntary logbook program revealed that recreational fishers caught more than 12,000 albacore tuna off the Washington coast in 2005, up from 8,000 in 2000.

In terms of federal and international regulation, albacore tuna is a highly migratory species (HMS) which is governed by the Pacific Fishery Management Council's HMS Management Plan, as well as several international fisheries treaties. According to the Department, in the future the HMS Management Plan may require recreational albacore tuna fishers to obtain federal fishing permits in states which do not require state licenses for it.

Summary of Bill:

A state personal-use fishing license is required to fish for albacore tuna.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Albacore tuna fishing is big business in Washington, and if the state does not require licenses to fish for them, then the federal government will. Both the industry and the Department want to keep management of this resource inside the state. The state has taken the lead in fulfilling the federal management requirements for this HMS, and the state license requirement will satisfy the federal requirements. This bill will also help to cover the Department's current costs managing this resource.

There is support for this bill among recreational albacore tuna fishers, because they do not want to have to get federal licenses to fish for albacore tuna.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Ed Owens, Coalition of Coastal Fishers; Phil Anderson, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; and Mark Cedergreen, Westpoint Charter Boat Association.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.