HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 ESSB 5508

Title: An act relating to catch record card requirements for recreational crab fishers.

Brief Description: Increasing harvest data accuracy for the recreational crab fishery.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation (originally sponsored by Senators Spanel, Oke, Snyder, Jacobsen, Rossi and Rasmussen).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Meeting Date: March 24, 1999.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Carole Richmond, Analyst (786-7114)

Background:The Department of Fish and Wildlife currently requires catch record cards of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut recreational fishers.  Catch record cards are utilized as a means of recording each fish caught and providing catch data to the department at the end of the license year.

Catch record cards are not currently required in the recreational shellfish fishery.  Increased harvest data accuracy could be achieved in the crab fishery with the use of catch record cards.

Summary of Bill:Recreational crab fishers are required to possess a crab catch record card and immediately enter harvest data when dungeness crabs are caught.  The Fish and Wildlife Commission must develop rules for the administration of the crab catch record card.

Data from crab catch record cards must be utilized in preparing catch reports and in catch-sharing negotiations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:Available.

Effective Date:Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.