SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5125

              AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 11, 1993

Brief Description:  Regulating issuance of commercial salmon fishing licenses.

SPONSORS: Senators Owen, Snyder, Haugen, Spanel, Sellar, Oke, Amondson and Erwin; by request of Department of Fisheries

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Owen, Chairman; Erwin, Franklin, Haugen, Oke, Sellar, Snyder, and Spanel.

Staff:  Erika Lim (786‑7488)

Hearing Dates: January 27, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Current law allows for renewal of a commercial salmon fishing license or salmon delivery permit only if a vessel (1) held a license or permit the previous year; and (2) landed one or more food fish the previous year. 

The landing requirement does not serve its intended purpose and costs $15,000-$20,000 annually to enforce.

SUMMARY:

The landing requirement is deleted.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

The landing requirement costs money to enforce but produces no benefit to fishers, citizens or fish.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Ed Manary, Washington Department of Fisheries