Brief Description: Concerning food fish and shellfish commercial license requirements.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives Blake and Upthegrove).

House Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks
Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the commercial harvest of food fish, shellfish, and salmon. A nonlimited entry delivery license is required to deliver certain food fish or shellfish taken in offshore waters. A limited entry delivery license is required for delivering salmon or ocean pink shrimp taken in offshore waters and delivered to a port in the state. Offshore waters means marine waters of the Pacific Ocean outside the territorial boundaries of the state, including the marine waters of other states and countries.

An "emerging commercial fishery" is the commercial taking of a newly classified species of food fish or shellfish, the commercial taking of a classified species with gear not previously used for that species, or the commercial taking of a classified species in an area from which that species has not been previously taken. The purpose of the designation is to allow scientific data to be collected on fishery impacts.

Summary:

"Delivery from a commercial vessel" of food fish or shellfish means arrival at a place or port, and includes arrivals from offshore waters to waters within the state and arrivals from state or offshore waters. For purposes of requiring a nonlimited entry delivery license, shellfish does not include fish or shellfish taken under an emerging commercial fisheries license if taken from offshore waters.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   95   1
Senate   47   0

Effective: July 24, 2005