Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

Limits the number of geoduck diver licenses the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) can issue after January 1, 2014, to 77.
Provides requirements for geoduck diver license renewals.
Requires the WDFW to revoke a geoduck diver license where the license holder has violated a Department of Natural Resources' harvest agreement plan of operation two or more times.
Creates the Geoduck Safety Advisory Committee that is responsible for establishing a safety program for geoduck diver license holders.

Background:

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is responsible for the issuance of Geoduck Diver Licenses and Geoduck Fishery Licenses, a combination of which are required of anyone wishing to participate in a commercial geoduck fishery. In order to be granted a Geoduck Fishery License, the purchaser must first enter into a valid geoduck harvest agreement with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

A holder of a Geoduck Fishery License does not necessarily have to obtain a Geoduck Divers License. The Geoduck Fishery License holder can arrange for geoduck divers to harvest the product allowed by the license. Likewise, the holder of a Geoduck Diver License is not required to obtain a Geoduck Fishery License if he or she is operating under the Geoduck Fishery License of another.

Geoduck Diver Licenses are nontransferable. The Geoduck Diver License annual fee is $185 for residents and $295 for nonresidents.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

Geoduck Diver License.

Divers engaged in the commercial harvest of geoducks are required to have a Geoduck Diver License. A diver may only own one license, and must perform all geoduck harvesting personally. The annual license fee is $185 for residents and $295 for nonresidents. This licensing requirement does not apply to divers engaged in private sector cultured aquatic products cultivation.

The Geoduck Diver License is nontransferable, and beginning January 1, 2014, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) may not issue more than 77 geoduck licenses in any year. The WDFW will allow people who held licenses in 2011, 2012, and 2013 and who were listed on a Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) geoduck harvest agreement plan of operation during the same period, the right of first refusal to purchase a Geoduck Diver License in 2014. The qualifying license holders will have to inform the WDFW of their intent to acquire a license within six months of the effective date of the bill.

A Geoduck Diver License expires on December 31 each year. Prior to the license's expiration, the license holder may apply to renew the license if he or she was included on a DNR geoduck harvest agreement plan of operation during the current year. Beginning on January 1, 2014, anyone applying for or renewing a Geoduck Diver License will be required to complete the safety program discussed below.

The WDFW is required to revoke a Geoduck Diver License if the license holder violated a DNR geoduck harvest agreement plan of operation two or more times. The person surrendering the Geoduck Diver License will not be permitted to hold another license for one calendar year from the date the license was revoked.

Geoduck Safety Advisory Committee.

The DNR must establish a Geoduck Harvest Safety Committee (Committee) with one member from the following: the DNR; the DNRs Geoduck Diver Advisory Committee; an organization that represents the interests of geoduck harvesters; and an organization that represents the interests of geoduck divers. The Committee must meet at least quarterly and establish a safety program for geoduck license holders by December 1, 2013. Beginning January 1, 2014, in order to be maintained on a DNR harvest agreement plan of operation, the geoduck diver is required to complete the safety program annually.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill provides the following:

clarifies that the geoduck diver licensing requirements do not apply to divers engaged in private sector cultured aquatic products;
provides that Geoduck Diver Licenses are nontransferable;
restricts the number of Geoduck Diver Licenses the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) can issue after January 1, 2014, to 77;
changes the annual license fee back to what is provided in statute: $185 for residents, $295 for nonresidents;
requires a Geoduck Diver License holder be included on a Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) geoduck harvest agreement plan of operation for that year in order to renew his or her license for the next year;
requires a person applying for or renewing a Geoduck Diver License to complete the safety program prior to being issued a license;
removes reissue fees;
changes the name of the committee creating the safety program from the Geoduck Safety Advisory Committee to the Geoduck Harvest Safety Committee (Committee);
adds a member from the DNR Geoduck Diver Advisory Committee to the Committee;
removes the representative from the WDFW from the Committee;
provides that the Committee must continue to review and evaluate the safety program's success and effectiveness and make appropriate changes to the program; and
requires licensed geoduck divers complete the safety program on an annual basis in order to be maintained on a DNR harvest agreement plan of operation.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The fiscal note is not accurate in that it states divers are currently paid about $2 per pound to harvest, when they are actually paid between 70 and 80 cents per pound. Boat owners are paid about $2.25 per pound; however, from that they must pay themselves as a diver, the other diver, and a tender who ensures the divers' safety. The boat owner, divers, and tenders are being paid 20-30 percent less than they were four years ago, while the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is being paid 25-45 percent more than they were four years ago. Any comparison of geoduck divers in Alaska to divers in Washington is not reasonable, because the Alaska divers are guaranteed the opportunity to harvest geoduck and were paid $9 per pound this season, which is far from the case in Washington.

The proposed substitute addresses many concerns that came with the bill as written now. Private aquaculture will be exempt from the license requirement. The Geoduck Diver Licenses will not be transferable, removing any permit speculation issue. The Department of Fish and Wildlife representative on the safety committee will be removed. The number of licenses will be limited to 77, which is three times the number of jobs that are usually available. Limiting the number of licenses and providing license revocation for repeated poaching will hopefully address the conundrum that divers find themselves in when the decision needs to be made between throwing less than grade "A" geoducks overboard at the request of the boat owner and keeping the job or getting caught by the DNR.

Currently there are no requirements for a Geoduck Diver License. There have been recent diver deaths, and the safety committee and the safety program are designed to prevent unnecessary deaths. The diver union attempted to create a program, but nonunion divers cannot be forced to take part in the program. This bill will prove to be very important to the future viability of the geoduck industry. It is an honest attempt to address broad concerns about workplace safety.

(With concerns) As the bill is written, it appears that it would not allow anyone new to get a Geoduck Diver License. Limiting entry to the diver license is not necessary nor does it enhance the management of the geoduck fishery. It is important that there are enough divers in the pool to take care of the harvest, and limiting entry may affect the number of divers available. The Geoduck Diver License should be nontransferable, and if a license is not being actively used it should be revoked. This will eliminate people holding onto licenses in hopes of selling it later for a profit.

(Opposed) None.