SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5850

As of February 14, 2001

Title:  An act relating to the consideration of extenuating circumstances for gear and effort reduction for the coastal Dungeness crab resource plan provisions.

Brief Description:  Concerning coastal Dungeness crab resource plan provisions.

Sponsors:  Senators Snyder, Jacobsen, Hargrove, T. Sheldon and Spanel.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines:  2/19/01.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7469)

Background:  The Dungeness crab coastal fishery is under a limited entry program.  A limited entry resource plan has been developed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and includes limits on pots based on catch records for each vessel in the fishery.

Summary of Bill:  The provisions of the resource plan developed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which are designated to affect the gear reduction or effort reduction based upon historical landing criteria for the Dungeness crab fishery, are subject to the considerations of extenuating circumstances as provided in law.

For the purposes of determining the number of shellfish pots assigned in the coastal crab fishery when the fishery license is held by a person whose vessel was lost due to sinking or fire in any one of the three qualifying seasons, the department must go back one more season from December 1, 1995, to September 15, 1996, and use this season=s poundage to determine the number of pots assigned to the license holder.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 13, 2001.

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