Brief Description: Requiring that certain shellfish and seaweed harvest license be available for inspection.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Blake, Takko, Curtis, VanDeWege, Hunt, Eickmeyer, Pettigrew, Morrell, Springer, Flannigan and Simpson).

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation

Background:

A person over the age of 15 must purchase a personal use shellfish and seaweed license from the Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department) prior to harvesting either shellfish or seaweed from state waters or from national park beaches. The license costs $7 for residents of Washington and $20 for residents of other states or countries. Seniors may purchase a license for $5.

Likewise, a person interested in harvesting razor clams for personal use must purchase a razor clam license. The cost of a one-day razor clam license is $5.50 for state residents, and $11 for individuals that are not residents of Washington. A three-day razor clam license is also available for an additional cost.

The license holder is required to display the appropriate license in a visible manner on his or her person while actually engaged in the act of harvesting shellfish, razor clams, or seaweed.

Summary:

License Display.

The requirement that a harvester of shellfish, razor clams, or seaweed must display the actual license on his or her person is removed. The harvester must still be in immediate possession of an appropriate license and make the license available for inspection.

License Sales Monitoring.

The Department is required to monitor the sales of razor clam, shellfish, and seaweed licenses for four years. If the license sales drop more than 10 percent from current levels during the monitoring period, the Department must report the sales data to the Legislature. The report to the Legislature must also contain any relevant information regarding the reasons for the decrease in license sales.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   95   0
Senate   47   0   (Senate amended)
House   94   0   (House concurred)

Effective: July 22, 2007