| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee | |
HB 1076
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Creating a rockfish research program.
Sponsors: Representatives Blake, Takko, B. Sullivan and Moeller.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/15/07
Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).
Background:
The term rockfish generally includes a number of species of long-lived, bottom-dwelling fish.
Like all fishery resources in Washington, the management of the rockfish resource and rockfish
fisheries has been delegated to the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department). The
Department has taken various actions, including the enaction of fishing limitations, to manage
the rockfish fishery in response to concerns that many rockfish populations are currently at a
level lower than what is generally considered healthy.
A common tool provided to the Department for managing fisheries is the fishing license. The
Department issues various licences, and combinations of licenses, for both commercial and
recreational fishing. Generally, there is a fee associated with the purchase or renewal of a
fishing license. In most cases, the license fee is used to help fund the operations and
management activities of the Department.
In addition to license fees, which raise revenue for general Department programs, some licenses
also require the payment of a surcharge upon purchase or renewal. A surcharge is an additional
cost above the fee for the license that is usually earmarked for a specific purpose. For instance,
certain shellfish licenses carry a surcharge that raise revenue specifically to fund testing and
monitoring for biotoxins [RCW 77.32.555].
Summary of Bill:
Research mandate
The Department is required to develop and implement a program that will research and conduct a
stock assessment of the rockfish populations in the state. The required research includes surveys
in both the Puget Sound and coastal waters using new and existing technologies. The surveys
must estimate the current abundance and future recovery of species of rockfish and other
groundfish.
Funding the research
The required rockfish research is funded through a series of surcharges on licenses offered by the
Department. The surcharges will be applied to the sales of the designated licenses until the end
of 2010.
Surcharges on commercial licences are set at $35. This surcharge applies to the annual fee
established for both salmon and non-salmon charter licenses, and to the annual fee for non-limited entry delivery licenses.
In addition, a series of licenses are assigned a surcharge of 50 cents. This surcharge applies to
recreational saltwater and combination fishing licenses, as well as to temporary combination
fishing licenses.
New Account
The revenue generated from the surcharges are to be deposited into the newly created Rockfish
Research Account (Account). The Account is unappropriated and expenditures may only be
authorised by the Director of the Department.
The revenue in the Account may be used only for rockfish research, including assessment of
stocks.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on 1/10/07.
Effective Date: 1/1/08