Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Natural Resources Committee

SSB 5443

Brief Description:  Changing required renewal dates in order to validly renew certain commercial fishing licenses.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Spanel, Jacobsen and Kohl‑Welles; by request of Department of Fish and Wildlife).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$The annual deadline for commercial salmon net fishers to renew or suspend their license is extended from August 1 to the third Monday in September.

Hearing Date:  3/23/01

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786‑7092).

Background: 

Commercial salmon net fishing is a limited entry fishery which requires licensees to renew their license annually in order to retain its validity.   If a licensee opts not to fish in a particular year, the licensee may have the license suspended for one year after payment of a $115 enhancement surcharge plus a handling fee.  The suspended license would be eligible for renewal the following year.

Existing law requires the salmon net fisher to elect whether to renew or suspend the license by August 1st of each year.  If the deadline were extended, fishers could make their decision to fish based upon more complete salmon run size estimates and other considerations.

Summary of Bill: 

The annual deadline for commercial salmon net fishers to renew or suspend their license is extended from August 1 to the third Monday in September.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on March 16, 2001.

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