Brief Description: Providing for a fair allocation of Dungeness crab resources.

Sponsors: Representatives Upthegrove, B. Sullivan and Dunshee.

Hearing Date: 4/7/05

Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).

Background:

The Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) issues a catch record card to the purchasers of certain recreational fishing licenses. These cards are returned to the Department with an accounting of species that were caught under the corresponding license. The data gathered from the catch record cards are used for managing the future harvest of the resource.

A catch record card specifically endorsed for Dungeness crab is required to take crabs in the Puget Sound. Although a general catch record card is issued at no additional charge, the Department may charge up to $3.00 for the Dungeness crab card. The fee is waived for the possessors of short-term charter stamp licenses.

Revenues from the sale of the Dungeness crab catch record card are deposited into the Wildlife Account and may only be used for the sampling, monitoring, and management of the Dungeness crab recreational fishery.

By May of 2006, the Department is required to report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of using the catch record fee as a method for improving the accuracy of catch measurements for the Puget Sound recreational crab fishery.

Summary of Bill:

The maximum fee for a Dungeness crab catch record card is reduced from $3.00 to $1.50, with revenues being redirected from the Wildlife Account into the newly created Dungeness Crab Endorsement Account. The fee still does not apply to catch record cards issued with a temporary short-term charter license.

The Dungeness Crab Endorsement Account is created as an appropriated account. Expenditures from the account can only be used for sampling, monitoring, and managing the Dungeness crab recreational fisheries.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.