HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1851

BYRepresentatives Haugen, S. Wilson, Cole, Bowman, Morris, Raiter and Spanel

Authorizing commercial harvesting in emerging fisheries.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

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

House Staff:Pamela Madson (786-7310)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES & WILDLIFE FEBRUARY 28, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Fisheries is authorized to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage the food fish and shellfish of this state. Under this authority, the department has designated through statute, certain commercial fisheries as limited entry fisheries including; salmon, Puget Sound crab, herring, and Puget Sound whiting.  The request for limited entry fisheries is increasing.

Through licensing of commercial fishing and test fisheries, the department obtains information on the impact of commercial harvest on the resource.  When the harvest rate threatens the conservation of the resource, one management tool is to limit the entry of additional fishers into the fishery.

SUMMARY:

The director of the Department of Fisheries may control commercial fishing in emerging fisheries through a permit process that determines, by rule, the number and qualification of the participants, and the size of the fishery.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Loren Stern, Department of Fisheries; and Steve Arbaugh, Puget Sound Gillnetters.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    A need exists to allow restricted harvest in new fisheries to assess the impact of harvesting on the resource.  Allowing a limited number of harvest permits initially is a way to control the harvest and allow a commercial fishery to develop.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.