SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESSB 5508

                As Passed Senate, March 5, 1999

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation:  2/10/99, 2/17/99 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 3/5/99, 46-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & RECREATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5508 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Ross Antipa (786-7413)

Background:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife currently requires catch record cards of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and halibut recreational fishermen.  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 crab 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:  Requested on February 2, 1999.

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

Testimony For:  Catch record data for the recreational crab fishery is not precise and methods need to be developed to improve catch data reporting.  Recreational crab harvest data is needed in catch-sharing negotiations with the tribes.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Tom Burton, John Rantz, Puget Sound Crab Association (pro); Morris Barker, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

House Amendment(s):  References are removed that restate the requirement to possess a valid fishing license or personal use shellfish and seaweed license in addition to a crab punch card in order to fish for Dungeness crab.  The requirements for fishing or shellfish and seaweed licenses are not repealed.

An emergency clause is added. 

A null and void clause is added.