SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 1026

BYRepresentatives Spanel, R. King, S. Wilson, Haugen, Nelson, Brekke and K. Wilson; by request of  Department of Fisheries

Regulating sea urchin fishing.

House Committe on Fisheries & Wildlife

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 21, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Amondson, Vice Chairman; Barr, Bauer, Benitz, Kreidler, Owen, Patterson, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Vic Moon (786-7469)

                  March 24, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES, MARCH 21, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The state of Washington has had a sea urchin fishery since the early 1970s.  However, the number of vessels involved in the fishery has doubled as of the 1988-89 season (78 vessels in 1987; 203 vessels in 1988).  The landings increased from approximately 400,000 pounds in 1983 to over 6.5 million pounds in 1988.

Three species of sea urchins are identified as harvestable:  reds, greens, and purples.  Reds are the predominant harvest species and are regulated by size season restriction (October to March; however, the 1988-89 season has been shortened), and by harvest area (five districts).  Green sea urchins have no restrictions and may be harvested with permission of the director of Fisheries. Purples are not harvested commercially.

This fishery is open to any vessel owner with a shellfish diver's license.  The divers are not required to be licensed.  The department has adopted an emergency rule that limits the number of divers per vessel to two.

SUMMARY:

A limited entry program is established for the Washington sea urchin fishery.  After October 1, 1989, a sea urchin endorsement to the shellfish diver's license for the commercial harvest of sea urchins is required.  To qualify for the endorsement, a vessel must have held a shellfish diver's license during the 1988 calendar year.  The vessel must have landed a minimum of 20,000 pounds of sea urchins during the two fishing seasons of April 1, 1986 through March 31, 1988. 

After the initial qualification, subsequent endorsements will be limited to those vessels that qualified during the previous season and that landed 20,000 pounds of sea urchins during a two-year period ending March 31 of an odd-numbered year.

A vessel's license which is not reissued due to a revocation or suspension will be eligible to be licensed for the following season.  The director may reduce or waive the 20,000 pound landing requirement upon the recommendation of a review board.  Such a recommendation shall be based on "extenuating circumstances" which are defined through the rule-making process.  A review board is established to hear contested cases.

Sea urchin endorsements are not transferable except on death of the owner, from parent to child or from spouse to spouse during marriage or as a result of a marriage dissolution.

Once the fishing fleet is reduced to 45 vessels, the director may issue additional endorsements by random selection.  The selection process will be established through the rule-making process upon recommendation of the review board.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: John Lambly, Washington Sea Urchin Association (pro); Randy Kraxberger, Washington Sea Urchin Association (pro); Judith Freeman, Department of Fisheries (pro); Dick Burge, Department of Fisheries (pro)