Title: An act relating to short-term fishing licenses.

Brief Description: Providing for temporary combination fishing licenses.

Sponsors: House Committee on Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives B. Sullivan, Buck, Blake, Kretz, Upthegrove, Eickmeyer, Orcutt and Morrell; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Brief History: Passed House: 3/15/05, 96-0.

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 3/28/05, 3/30/05 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Oke, Ranking Minority Member; Fraser, Morton, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff: Curt Gavigan (786-7437)

Background: The Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) manages the recreational harvest of fish and the licensing of recreational fishers. A personal use saltwater, freshwater, combination, or temporary license is required for all persons 15 years of age or older to fish for or possess fish taken for personal use from state or offshore waters. A temporary fishing license costs $6 and is valid for two consecutive days. An annual combination license allows a person to fish for or possess fish, shellfish, and seaweed from state waters or offshore waters. Fees for annual combination licenses are $36 for residents and $72 for nonresidents. The Fish and Wildlife Commission may set transaction fees on the sale of recreational licenses and stamps issued through the automated license system.

The WDFW currently requires recreational fishers to report their harvest activity on catch record cards for salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, halibut, and Dungeness crab. Catch record cards are provided free with the purchase of a license, except for Dungeness crab harvested in Puget Sound. A catch record card endorsed for Dungeness crab is required for Puget Sound recreational fishers to take or possess Dungeness crab, with a cost not to exceed $3. A catch record card issued with a temporary short-term charter stamp is valid for two days.

Summary of Bill: Temporary combination fishing licenses are established for residents and nonresidents. The fees for the temporary licenses are as follows:

Number of Days	Resident	Nonresident
1	$7	$14
2	$10	$20
3	$13	$26
4	$15	$30
5	$17	$34
1 Day Charter	$7	$7

Charter stamps, which are valid for a one day temporary combination license, are $7 for residents and non-residents. A transaction fee to support the automated licensing system will be taken from the amount of each temporary license. A catch record card endorsed for Dungeness crab, when purchased for a temporary fishing license, must cost no more than $1. Catch record cards issued with charter stamps are valid for one day.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: The Department of Fish and Wildlife has worked closely with members of the industry and those who enjoy recreational fishing on this bill. This bill would provide both increased options for short term fishing licenses and valuable income to the wildlife fund.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Ed Owens, Coalition of Coastal Fisheries; Jim Lux, Department of Fish and Wildlife.