FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1075

C 288 L 13

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Concerning the number of Puget Sound Dungeness crab fishery licenses that one vessel may be designated to carry.

Sponsors: House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Lytton, Blake, Chandler, Haigh and Morris).

House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Parks

Background:

Commercial fishing for Dungeness crab in the Puget Sound requires a Puget Sound Dungeness crab fishery license. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is permitted to issue up to 125 of these licenses.

Prior to 2001, a vessel was not permitted to be designated on more than one fishery license unless the licenses were for different fisheries. An exception was added to allow the same vessel to be designated on two specified licenses, provided that the licenses were owned by the same licensee. The permitted licenses specified are: Puget Sound Dungeness crab fishery license; shrimp pot Puget Sound fishery license; sea cucumber dive fishery license; and sea urchin dive fishery license. In 2005 the exception was amended to allow the same vessel to be designated on two Puget Sound Dungeness crab fishery licenses.

Summary:

A vessel may be designated for up to three Puget Sound Dungeness crab fishery licenses as long as all licenses are owned by the same licensee. This is an increase from the previous designation of two Puget Sound Dungeness crab fishery licenses.

Votes on Final Passage: