HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1022

BYRepresentatives Spanel, S. Wilson, R. King, Schmidt, Braddock, Haugen, Ebersole, Cooper, Kremen, Cole, Heavey, Winsley, Youngsman, Basich, Rasmussen, P. King and K. Wilson 

Allowing smelt fishing without a license in one-day fishing derbies.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives R. King, Chair; Morris, Vice Chair; S. Wilson, Ranking Republican Member; Bowman, Brooks, Cole, Haugen, Smith, Spanel and Vekich.

House Staff:Pamela Madson (786-7310)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 30, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Fisheries administers over 100 species of foodfish, excluding shellfish.  Anadromous salmon make up five of the many species of food fish.  Prior to 1988, sports anglers were required to have a license to fish for anadromous salmon but were not required to have a license to fish for other species of food fish.

As of 1988, any person between the ages of 16 and 69 is required to have a personal use license to fish for all species of food fish, including smelt.  The cost of the license is $3.00 for a resident and $9.00 for a non-resident.

There is no provision in statute allowing the Department of Fisheries to exempt events like smelt derbies involving large numbers of people participating in a one day community activity from the license requirement.

SUMMARY:

The director of the Department of Fisheries may exempt the taking of smelt from the personal use license requirement when the fisher is participating in a one day fishing derby sponsored by a not-for-profit community organization.  Smelt fishing derbies must pay an application fee of $25 for each smelt fishing derby.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Matthew Paul, La Conner, Washington; and Frank Smith, La Conner, Washington.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Ed Manary, Department of Fisheries.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The community of La Conner has held a one-day smelt fishing derby for the past 20 years.  It is a Rotary Club fund-raising project.  Last year was the first year personal use licenses were required.  Supporters fear the license requirement will hurt participation in the event.  There was not a heavy emphasis on enforcement of the license requirement for this event by the department.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The personal use license was the most recent recreational fishing license passed by the Legislature to be generally applied.  The department is concerned about exemptions at a time when it is attempting to consolidate and simplify the license scheme.