Title: An act relating to Puget Sound Dungeness crab catch record cards.

Brief Description: Regarding Puget Sound Dungeness crab catch record cards.

Sponsors: Senators Spanel, Swecker, Jacobsen, Morton and Shin; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation: 1/17/08, 1/24/08 [DP].

Ways & Means: 2/4/08, 2/7/08 [DP, w/oRec].

Passed Senate: 2/14/08, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, OCEAN & RECREATION

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

Staff: Curt Gavigan (786-7437)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Pridemore, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Fairley, Hatfield, Hobbs, Honeyford, Keiser, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, Regala, Rockefeller and Tom.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senators Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Carrell, Hewitt, Parlette, Roach and Schoesler.

Staff: Elise Greef (786-7708)

Background: Current statute states that catch record card information is necessary for proper management of the state's fish and shellfish resources.

In addition to a recreational license, fishers must have a catch record card endorsed for Puget Sound Dungeness crab in order to fish for or possess Dungeness crab in Puget Sound. The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) must provide initial catch record cards at no cost, and subsequent catch record cards generally cost $10. The cost of a Dungeness crab endorsement varies depending on the type of license the fisher holds, but in no case exceeds $3.

DFW has broad authority to adopt catch record card reporting requirements by rule. Persons who do not follow DFW's fish and wildlife harvest reporting requirements are subject to a misdemeanor.   

DFW estimates that catch record card reporting compliance for the recreational Puget Sound Dungeness crab catch is approximately 30 percent.

Summary of Bill: DFW may establish an administrative penalty for failure to comply with rules requiring recreational fishers to report Puget Sound Dungeness crab catch record card data. The total administrative penalty imposed per fisher may not exceed $25. Such a violation would no longer constitute a misdemeanor.

DFW may also require recreational fishers to report the required data and pay the administrative penalty in order to receive a new Puget Sound Dungeness crab catch record card.

DFW must annually report to the Legislature the rate of fisher compliance with these reporting requirements, the administrative penalty imposed for a violation, and the total amount of administrative penalties collected.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: (Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation) PRO: DFW makes decisions on Puget Sound crab seasons based on catch estimates. Currently, there is a very low catch reporting compliance rate, complicating DFW's fisheries management responsibilities. This bill would provide additional incentives for fisher compliance with the catch record card reporting requirements, improving the fishery for all involved.

Persons Testifying (Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation): PRO: Senator Spanel, prime sponsor; Lisa Veneroso, DFW.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Ways & Means): PRO: DFW has been having problems getting compliance with their catch-record cards, and this will help improve data collection.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Morris Barker, DFW.