SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 2107

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

     Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, March 25, 1999

Title:  An act relating to limiting fishing of shrimp.

Brief Description:  Limiting fishing of shrimp.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Anderson and Linville).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation:  3/22/99, 3/25/99 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & RECREATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; T. Sheldon, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Morton, Oke, Rossi, Spanel and Stevens.

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  An "emerging commercial fishery" means the commercial taking of a newly classified species of food fish or shellfish, the commercial taking of a classified species with gear not previously used for that species, or the commercial taking of a classified species in an area from which that species has not been previously taken (RCW 75.28.740).  The purpose of the designation is to allow scientific data to be collected on fishery impacts and to correctly size the amount of fishing gear and participants to the amount of harvestable resource.

Within five years after adopting rules to govern the number of participants in an emerging commercial fishery, the director shall provide a report to the Legislature which outlines the status of the fishery and a recommendation as to whether a separate commercial fishery license, license fee, or limited harvest program should be established for that fishery.

In 1994, Puget Sound shrimp pot and Puget Sound shrimp trawl fisheries were designated as emerging commercial fisheries for which vessels are required.  The rule also establishes that Puget Sound shrimp may only be fished with an experimental fishery permit, determines who may qualify for obtaining a permit, and limits the transferability of the permits.

A limited entry fishery is one that controls the amount of fishing effort by restricting the number of operators or vessels.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The commercial Puget Sound shrimp fishery is transformed from an emerging commercial fishery to a limited entry fishery.  Fees for the shrimp pot limited entry fishery are reduced.  As of January 1, 2000,  both shrimp pot and shrimp trawl fishers must have a shrimp pot or shrimp trawl Puget Sound limited entry fishery license.  As of January 1, 2000, the fishery is restricted to those fishers who held an emerging commercial fishery license the previous year.  The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the shrimp industry are directed to refine the limited entry program and to report to the Legislature by December 31, 1999.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Two technical, nonsubstantive changes are made.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The Puget Sound shrimp commercial fishery has been under an emerging fishery status for five years and the Department of Fish and Wildlife along with the shrimp fishers recommend transition to a limited entry fishery.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Anderson; Morris Barker, Department of Fish and Wildlife.