Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee |
HB 2626
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: Increasing commercial fishing license fees for nonresidents.
Sponsors: Representatives Blake, Griffey, Wilcox, Condotta, Tharinger, Nealey, Pike, Chapman, Wylie, Tarleton and Steele; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 1/17/18
Staff: Rebecca Lewis (786-7339).
Background:
The Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) manages the commercial fish harvest of food fish, shellfish, and salmon. Commercial fishers and crewmembers, buyers and sellers, and fishing guides must obtain applicable licenses from the DFW. Additionally, delivery licenses are required to deliver salmon and shrimp commercially harvested in offshore waters to a port in Washington. In general, commercial fishing license fees are structured by species and fishing technique. There is a resident and nonresident fee set in statute for each license type and various application fees and surcharges depending on the license.
There are several categories of commercial fish buyers and sellers:
A "fish broker" facilitates the sale or purchase of raw or frozen fish or shellfish on commission without assuming title to the fish or shellfish.
A "fish dealer" engages in the wholesale selling, buying, or brokering of raw or frozen fish or shellfish or takes possession of fish or shellfish, in whole or parts, for canning or processing, or to manufacture or prepare commercial fertilizer, fish bait, oil, or any other byproducts from fish or shellfish.
A "wholesale fish buyer" takes first possession or ownership of fish or shellfish directly from a commercial fisher or from interstate or foreign commerce, or engages in wholesale buying or selling of fish or shellfish harvested by Indian fishers lawfully exercising fishing rights.
A "limited fish seller" is a licensed commercial fisher who sells their commercially harvested catch at retail directly to consumers. A limited fish seller may designate an alternate to sell under his or her endorsement.
Summary of Bill:
Nonresident fees for commercial fishing; buying and dealing; and delivery licenses, and the limited fish seller endorsement, are increased. Crewmember license fees are not changed. The increases result in a fee differential of $385 between each resident and nonresident license. Some examples are as follows:
License/Endorsement type | Nonresident fee (current) | Nonresident fee (HB 2626) |
Fish Dealer | $475 | $785 |
Geoduck Diver | $410 | $740 |
Ocean Pink Shrimp Delivery | $375 | $685 |
Limited Fish Seller | $145 | $455 |
Additionally, resident fees for fishing guide licenses are reduced. The resident food fish guide license is decreased from $280 to $210, and the nonresident fee is increased from $355 to $595. The resident game fish guide license is decreased from $410 to $305, and the nonresident fee is increased from $485 to $690. These changes also result in a $385 fee differential between resident and nonresident fees.
All application fees and surcharges remain the same.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 10, 2018
Effective Date: January 1, 2019