H-2256

AN ACT Relating to limiting fishing of shrimp; amending RCW 75.28.130; adding new sections to chapter 75.30 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 75.28.130 and 1994 c 260 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) This section establishes commercial fishery licenses required for shellfish fisheries and the annual fees for those licenses. The director may issue a limited-entry commercial fishery license only to a person who meets the qualifications established in applicable governing sections of this title.

Fishery Annual Fee Vessel Limited

(Governing section(s)) Resident Nonresident Required? Entry?

(a) Burrowing shrimp $185 $295 Yes No

(b) Crab ring net- $130 $185 Yes No

Non-Puget Sound

Puget Sound

(d) Dungeness crab- $295 $520 Yes Yes

coastal (RCW 75.30.350)

(e) Dungeness crab- $295 $520 Yes Yes

coastal, class B

(RCW 75.30.350)

(f) Dungeness crab- $130 $185 Yes Yes

Puget Sound

(RCW 75.30.130)

(g) Emerging commercial $185 $295 Determined Determined

fishery (RCW 75.30.220 by rule by rule

and 75.28.740)

(h) Geoduck (RCW $ 0 $ 0 Yes Yes

75.30.280)

(i) Hardshell clam $530 $985 Yes No

mechanical harvester

(RCW 75.28.280)

(j) Oyster reserve $130 $185 No No

(RCW 75.28.290)

(k) Razor clam $130 $185 No No

(l) Sea cucumber dive $130 $185 Yes Yes

(RCW 75.30.250)

(m) Sea urchin dive $130 $185 Yes Yes

(RCW 75.30.210)

(n) Shellfish dive $130 $185 Yes No

(o) Shellfish pot $130 $185 Yes No

(p) Shrimp pot- ((~~$325 $575~~)) Yes ((No))

((~~Hood Canal~~)) $185 $295 Yes

Puget Sound

(section 2 of this act)

(q) Shrimp trawl- $240 $405 Yes No

Non-Puget Sound

(r) Shrimp trawl- $185 $295 Yes ((No))

Yes

Puget Sound

(section 3 of this act)

(s) Squid $185 $295 Yes No

(2) The director may by rule determine the species of shellfish that may be taken with the commercial fishery licenses established in this section, the gear that may be used with the licenses, and the areas or waters in which the licenses may be used. Where a fishery license has been established for a particular species, gear, geographical area, or combination thereof, a more general fishery license may not be used to take shellfish in that fishery.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 75.30 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Effective January 1, 2000, a person shall not fish for shrimp taken from Puget Sound for commercial purposes with shrimp pot gear except under the provisions of a shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license issued under RCW 75.28.130.

(2) Effective January 1, 2000, a shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license shall only be issued to a natural person who held an emerging commercial fishery license and Puget Sound shrimp pot experimental fishery permit during 1999. Beginning January 1, 2001, a shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license shall only be issued to a natural person who held a shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery license during the previous year.

(3) Shrimp pot-Puget Sound fishery licenses are nontransferable.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 75.30 RCW to read as follows:

(1) Effective January 1, 2000, a person shall not fish for shrimp taken from Puget Sound for commercial purposes with shrimp trawl gear except under the provisions of a shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery license issued under RCW 75.28.130.

(2) Effective January 1, 2000, a shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery license shall only be issued to a natural person who held an emerging commercial fishery license and Puget Sound shrimp trawl experimental fishery permit during 1999. Beginning January 1, 2001, a shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery license shall only be issued to a natural person who held a shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery license during the previous licensing year.

(3) The department, by rule, may set licensee participation requirements for Puget Sound shellfish trawl shrimp harvest.

(4) Shrimp trawl-Puget Sound fishery licenses are nontransferable.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The department of fish and wildlife and the Puget Sound shrimp fishing industry shall work cooperatively to refine the limited entry management program for the Puget Sound shrimp fishery. The department shall make recommendations to the natural resources committee of the house of representatives and the natural resources committee of the senate by December 31, 1999.