SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6110

As Passed Senate, March 9, 2001

Title:  An act relating to the Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program.

Brief Description:  Providing for the administration of a Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Spanel, Gardner and Kohl‑Welles).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines:  2/26/01, 3/5/01 [DPS].

Passed Senate:  3/9/01, 48-1.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6110 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

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

Staff:  Victor Moon (786‑7469)

Background:  The Puget Sound crab pot fishery is a limited entry fishery with a 100 pot limit, but the Department of Fish and Wildlife does not have the authority to charge fees for crab pot tags.  Crab pot buoy tags would be an important identification tool in managing the fishery in the Puget Sound and could provide an identification so that the distinction can be made between treaty shellfish fishers, recreational fishers, and the Puget Sound crab pot commercial fishers.

Summary of Bill:  The highly visible tags allow enforcement of the 100 pot limit.  In order to manage the Puget Sound crab pot program, the department may charge a fee to members of the Puget Sound crab industry who hold licenses to reimburse the department for the production of crab pot buoy tags and the administration of the Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag program.

A Puget Sound crab pot buoy tag account is created in the Office of the State Treasurer and expenditures from the account are used for the program.  The director or the director=s designee may authorize expenditures from the account.

An emergency clause is included.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For:  There are a number of people who exceed the 100 pot limit and a tag system will prevent illegal harvest.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Phil Anderson, DFW; Joe Verdoes, Puget Sound Crab Assn.

House Amendment(s):  The House amendment clarifies the Senate bill to ensure crab processors are not charged the crab pot buoy tag fee.