Title: An act relating to coastal crab fisheries licenses.

Brief Description: Concerning coastal crab fisheries licenses.

Sponsors: Senators Doumit, Oke, Jacobsen, Schoesler and Delvin.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 1/23/06, 1/26/06 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6439 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Oke, Ranking Minority Member; Fraser, Hargrove, Morton, Spanel and Stevens.

Staff: Curt Gavigan (786-7437)

Background: Current statutory provisions set certain length restrictions on the ability of a coastal crab fishery license holder to designate vessels for use under a license. A license holder may not change designation to a vessel whose hull length exceeds 99 feet. A license holder may not change designation to a vessel that exceeds the length of the currently designated vessel by more than 10 feet. A license holder may generally change designation to a vessel comparable in size, or up to one foot longer than the currently designated vessel, no more than once in any two consecutive coastal crab seasons. Additionally, a license holder may generally change designation to a vessel between one and ten feet longer than the currently designated vessel no more than once in any five consecutive coastal crab seasons.

Summary of Substitute Bill: A coastal crab fishery license holder may not change designation to a vessel that exceeds the vessel length designated on the license on the date this provision takes effect by more than 10 feet. Additionally, a license holder may generally change designation to a vessel between one and ten feet longer than the designated vessel on the effective date of this provision no more than once. Vessel hull length means the length overall of a vessel's hull as shown by marine survey or manufacturer's specifications. The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) shall, by December 31, 2010, in cooperation with the coastal crab fishing industry, evaluate the effectiveness of this provision.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: Language in the current statute regarding the measurement of vessel hull length is amended. The DFW is instructed to, by December 31, 2010, evaluate the effectiveness of this provision in cooperation with the coastal crab fishing industry. Technical changes are made to clarify the bill's language.

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: Although there are currently provisions limiting vessel size for commercial coastal crab fishers, the limits have not kept the industry's capacity from increasing a great deal. The coastal crab fishers support self limiting the size of vessels because of the flexibility provided in this bill.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Ed Owens, Coalition of Coastal Fisheries; Dale Beasley, CRCFA; Phil Anderson, DFW.